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**'§Xit  fo:t^0ut  a  parable  spake  be  ixoi  mxta  i^em."   Mark  4:  34. 


the: 

Worker's  Treasury 

OP 


Texts,  Subjects,  Outlines,  and  Scripture  Readings. 


COMPILED  BY 

REV.  E.  S.  LORENZ,  A.  M. 


DAYTON,  OHIO: 
W.  J.  Shuey,  Publisher. 
1S87. 


Copyright,  i88j. 
By  Rev.  W.  J,  Shuey. 


PRE  FACE. 


TtK-  -pressure  upon  a  minister's  time  and.  strength  during  a  revival  is 
sometning  tremendous.  One  or  even  two  meetings  each  day,  with  a  ser- 
mon or  extended  address  at  each,  not  to  mention  the  even  more  taxing  ex- 
hortations of  indefinite  number  and.  length,  the  large  demands  for  personal 
and  pastoral  work  made  upon  his  time  during  the  day,  the  care  and  man- 
agement of  so  many  persons,  saved  and  unsaved,  and  of  the  many  details 
of  the  meeting,  exhaust  his  time  and  nervous  force,  without  adding  the 
task  of  preparing  his  discourses.  Yet  the  gravity  of  the  interests  involved 
demands  the  most  thorough  preparation  possible  for  the  pulpit;  for  "it 
pleased  God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save  them  that  believe." 
While  the  inspiration  of  the  work,  and,  what  is  better,  the  presence  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  will  often  enable  the  preacher  to  make  almost  wholly  extem- 
poraneous addresses  of  w^onderful  power,  the  conscientious  worker  almost 
invariably  feels  that,  if  to  this  inspiration  and  baptism  of  the  Spirit  he 
could  have  added  an  adequate  previous  preparation,  even  more  might 
have  been  accomplished.  Under  the  pressure  of  this  thought,  the  editor, 
from  the  beginning  of  his  ministry,  has  felt  it  his  duty  during  the  whole 
year,  and  especially  during  the  months  immediately  preceding  the  revival 
season,  to  gather  together  such  materials  as  seemed  particularly  adapted  for 
the  work, — illustrations,  anecdotes,  texts,  themes,  and  the  like, — to  secure 
books  in  which  these  were  to  be  found,  and  to  organize  them  sufficiently 
to  make  them  immediately  accessible,  just  when  needed.  This  colle(5lion 
is  the  outgrowth  of  this  effort  to  supply  a  personal  necessity,  that  in  the 
pressure  of  the  evangelistic  services  there  might  be  an  abundance  of  ma- 
terials from  which  to  seledl.  As  his  resources  grew  larger  and  richer,  it 
finally  occurred  to  the  writer  that  doubtless  hundreds  of  other  ministers  had 
the  same  needs,  but  fewer  opportunities  to  colledt  the  desired  materials, 
and  that  it  was  his  duty  to  share  with  his  brethren  his  gathered  treasures. 
As  he  has  labored  still  further  to  enrich  his  stores,  gleaning  in  fields  far 
from  the  beaten  highway,  he  has  constantly  had  in  mind  the  needs  of  the 
young  minister,  without  the  resources  accumulated  from  experience  or 
1 


PREFACK. 


reading;  but  he  is  quite  sure  that  many  who  are  older  will  gladly  avail 
themselves  of  the  fresh  materials  garnered  here. 

It  would  have  been  easy  to  give  even  more  help  than  this  work  affords, 
but  the  editor's  desire  was  to  avoid  doing  for  those  whom  he  wished  to 
aid  what  they  ought  and  must  do  for  themselves.  Knowing  that  a  merely 
mechanical  appropriation  of  the  contents  of  this  volume  could  only  do 
harm  to  the  preacher  and  his  work,  he  has  endeavored  to  so  arrange  the 
materials  as  not  to  become  a  party  to  such  an  abuse  of  the  benefits  it  is 
sought  to  confer.  The  anecdotes  have  been  condensed,  so  that  it  is  left  to 
the  speaker  to  elaborate  the  details.  The  application,  when  given  at  all, 
is  merely  suggested,  so  that  the  preacher  can  easily  adapt  it  to  his  imme- 
diate purpose.  The  sermon  outlines  given  are  in  most  cases  so  simple 
and  slight  that  they  can  hardly  be  used  otherwise  than  suggestively.  The 
help  that  this  colledlion  affords  is  therefore  legitimate,  and  can  be  honor- 
ably accepted  by  the  most  conscientious  worker. 

If  the  original  sources  of  these  illustrations  could  have  been  given,  it 
would  have  been  a  satisfadlion  to  the  editor ;  but  it  represented  more  labor 
than  he  could  afford  to  give  to  a  matter  of  mere  taste.  For  the  sake  of 
uniformity,  he  has  indicated  no  sources,  even  when  they  were  known.  Nor 
has  he  stopped  to  investigate  the  authenticity  or  historical  truth  of  these 
anecdotes,  considering  that  a  matter  of  little  importance  in  a  parable. 

Thanks  are  due  to  a  number  of  ministerial  brethren  who  have  kindly 
furnished,  at  the  editor's  request,  original  illustrations  from  their  own  ex- 
perience and  observation. 

That  these  smooth  stones  from  the  brook  may  be  useful  to  many  Davids 
all  over  the  land,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of  the  editor. 

K.  S.  lyORENZ. 

Dayton^  Ohio,  July  ist,  i88'j. 


coisTTEisrrs. 


Page. 

Preface   i 

PART  I. 

HYMN  ANECDOTES. 

Introduction   9 

Anecdotes   12 

PART  II. 

•  REVIVAE  ANECDOTES. 

Introduction.  — The  Use  of  Illustrations   51 

I.  GOD   56 

1.  God.  —  (i.)  Existence   56 

(2.)  Attributes.  —  (a.)  Omnipotence   60 

(6.)  Omniscience   63 

{c.)  Justice   65 

{d.)  Providence   68 

(^.)  Love   70 

2.  Christ.  —  (i.)  I^ife  and  Charadler   74 

(2,)  Death  and  Atonement   78 

3.  Holy  Spirit   89 

4.  God's  Word   93 

II.  MAN  loi 

I.  Man  in  Sin.  —  (i.)  Chara(5ler  and  Extent  of  Sin  loi 

(2.)  Results  of  Sin.  —  (a.)  In  This  Life  iii 

(^.)  In  Death  120 

(^.)  In  Eternity  123 

(3.)  Results  of  Rejedling  Christ  137 

3 


4  CONTENTS. 

Page. 

2.  Man's  Salvation.— (i.)  The  Invitation  :...o..i45 

(2.)  Repentance    151 

(3.)  Conversion  „  158 

3.  The  Christian  lyiFE.  —  (i.)  Praise  165 

(2.)  Obedience  168 

(3.)  Holiness  169 

(4.)  Confessing  Christ  ,   180 

(5.)  lyove  to  Christ  183 

(6.  )  Joy  in  Christ    184 

(7.)  Love  and  Forgiveness  1S6 

(8.)  Inconsistent  Ivife  189 

(9.)  Backsliding  ,  196 

(10.)  Faith..  1 98 

(11.)  Prayer  204 

4.  Christian  Work. — (i.)  Consecration  222 

(2.)  Zeal  230 

(3.)  Opportunities  Improved  238 

(4,)  Opportunities  Negledled  24S 

(5.)  Children  ^t^pk.  255 

(6.)  Temperance  268 

(7.)  Christian  Rewards  275 

(8.)  Christian  Church  282 

PART  III. 

TKXTS,  SUBJECTS,  OUTIvINKS,  AND  SCRIPTURK 
READINGS. 

I.  GOD  291 

1.  God. — Existence  and  Attributes  291 

2.  Christ    294 

3.  Holy  Spirit  297 

4.  The  Word  of  God  298 

II.  MAN  301 

I.  Man's  Sin. — (i.)  —  Nature  of  Sin  301 

(2.)  Attitude  of  the  Sinner  304 

(3.)  Judgment  for  Sin  306 

(4.)  Rejedling  Christ  308 

(5.)  The  Sinner  Reje(fted  311 

(6.)  Results  of  Sin.  —  {a.)  In  This  Life  312 

{b.)  In  Death  315 

{c.)  In  Eternity  316 


CONTENTS.  5 
Page. 

2.  Man's  Salvation.  —  (i.)  Salvation  318 

(2.)  Invitation    321 

(3.)  Repentance  323 

(4.)  Conversion  326 

3.  Christian  Life.  —  (i.)  Holiness  330 

(2.)  Christian  Privileges  332 

(3.)  Prayer  333 

(4.)  Faith  :  335 

(5.)  Confessing  Christ  336 

(6.)  Backsliding  Christians...  336 

4.  Christian  Work, — (i.)  Consecration  340 

(2.)  Sources  of  Power  343 

(3.)  Responsibility  for  Others  343 

(4.)  Church  at  Work  345 

(5.)  Children  347 

5.  Christian  Rewards  348 

SCRIPTURK  READINGS  FOR  SOCIAI,  MFETINGS  349 

INDEXES. 

Index  of  Hymn  Anecdotes  361 

Index  of  Revival  Anecdotes  by  Titles  365 

Index  of  Revival  Anecdotes  by  Topics  377 

Index  of  Texts,  Subje(5ls,  and  Outlines  383 


PART  I. 

HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


HYM^  ANECDOTES. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  power  of  no  other  part  of  public  worship  is  so  little  util- 
ized as  that  of  song.  While  it  may  be  conceded  to  add  a  little 
variety,  and  to  give  the  congregation  a  small  chance  to  participate 
in  the  service,  it  is  pradlically  looked  upon  as  the  padding  which 
helps  to  fill  up  the  time  of  the  service.  The  minister  announces 
the  number  of  the  hymn,  and,  without  waiting  for  the  congrega- 
tion to  find  the  hymn  in  order  that  they  maj^  follow  its  reading 
in  an  intelligent  way,  he  reads  it  through  in  a  wooden,  mechan- 
ical manner  that  convidts  him  on  the  spot  of  a  lack  of  apprecia- 
tion of,  and  sympathy  with,  the  spirit  of  the  hymn;  if. he  is  a 
sloven,  he  will  simply  read  a  line  or  two — not  enough  to  make 
sense — and  will  omit  the  remainder  to  save  time.  If  a  minister 
should  manage  his  public  prayers  in  the  same  way,  he  would  be 
unfrocked.  And  yet  song  is  the  peer  of  prayer  as  a  public  devo- 
tional exercise,  and  deserves  equally  intelligent  treatment.  It 
has  need  of  the  same  sincere  and  earnest  spirit  which  alone  makes 
prayer  acceptable. 

This  negle(?t  of  the  hymn  is  all  the  more  unpardonable  that,  as 
far  as  immediate  impressions  upon  the  people  are  concerned,  song 
is  more  powerful  than  prayer.  It  will  wake  the  feeling,  kindle 
the  enthusiasm,  and  lift  the  spirit  of  worshipers,  as  few  men  can 
with  their  prayers.  That  it  does  not  usually  do  this,  is  due  to  the 
fadl  that  it  is  generally  an  unreal,  conventional  performance,  little 
calculated,  and  indeed  not  intended,  to  touch  the  heart.  The  suc- 
cess of  Mr.  Sankey  is  an  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  congre- 
gations respond  to  a  leader  to  whom  song  has  meaning  and  reality. 
It  is  this  hymnic  vitality,  rather  than  any  genius  or  skill,  which 
9 


10 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


has  given  him  success.  That  a  clergyman  or  gospel  worker  has 
no  musical  knowledge  or  skill,  does  not  matter  greatly  in  making 
the  song  ser\dce  a  power;  he  needs  but  to  enter  into  the  spirit 
and  meaning  of  what  is  sung.  He  may  not  be  a  good  reader,  and 
may  even  be  unable  to  sing  a  note;  but  if  his  heart  understands 
the  hymn  and  responds  to  it,  the  elecftric  current  of  his  feeling 
will  run  through  the  congregation,  and  rich  results  will  follow 
from  the  ser\^ice  of  song. 

WTiile  some  persons  have  by  nature  a  quicker  and  deeper  in- 
sight into  the  meaning  of  a  hymn  than  others,  it  will  open  its 
heart  to  any  one  who  studies  it  lovingly  and  appreciatively. 
When  not  only  the  thought,  but  also  the  feeling,  of  ever^^  phrase 
and  word  is  understood  and  appropriated  as  one's  own,  the  read- 
ing of  the  worker  wall  be  no  longer  formal  and  mechanical,  but 
the  direcft  expression  of  his  own  heart,  natural  and  unafifedled. 
Such  reading,  however  defedtive  from  the  stand-point  of  an  elocu- 
tionist, will  have  power,  and  will  equal  in  devotional  value  a 
fervent  praj-er,  or  a  well-rendered  Scripture  lesson.  It  gives  the 
spiritual  key-note  which  makes  or  mars  the  whole  song  service. 

But  as  the  impressiveness  of  a  Scripture  lesson  is  often  greatly 
augmented  by  pertinent  comments,  so  the  meaning  of  a  hymn 
may  be  made  more  evident,  and  the  congregation  lifted  to  a 
greater  responsiveness  to  its  feeling,  b}-  a  few  well-chosen  re- 
marks or  an  apt  illustration,  anecdotal  or  otherwise.  Often  the 
older  and  more  familiar  the  h3-mn,  the  more  necessary'  is  such  re- 
vivifying comment.  The  narration  of  historical  facT;s  concerning 
the  hymn  or  its  author,  such  as  are  found  in  abundance  in  Dr. 
Duffield's  most  excellent  and  helpful  work  on  "English  Hj-mns," 
will  add  very  much  to  its  effecliveness.  Anecdotes  illustrating 
particular  sentiments  in  the  h5^mn  are  even  more  useful,  as  they 
are  more  likely  to  touch  the  heart.  These  illustrations  need  have 
no  historical  conne(5tion  with  the  hymn ;  that  they  impress  more 
deeply  its  leading  sentiments,  establishes  their  pertinency.  Com- 
ment and  illustration  need  not  be  confined  to  the  beginning  of  the 
hymn,  but  at  the  conclusion  of  an^'  stanza  the  thought  of  the  next 
may  be  quickened  into  life  by  a  few  earnest  words.  It  should, 
however,  be  said,  that  extended  remarks  are  entirely  out  of  place, 
and  worse  than  useless,  as  they  defeat  the  objedl  desired. 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


11 


These  hints  have  particular  value  in  evangelistic  services,  in 
which,  if  properly  condudled,  song  must  play  an  important  part. 
Here  the  danger  too  often  is,  that  mere  noise  and  senseless  excite- 
ment shall  be  the  results  of  the  thoughtless,  unintelligent  sing- 
ing. Song  expresses,  and  at  the  same  time  begets,  emotion,  and 
that  is  its  purpose ;  but  the  skillful  worker  will  see  to  it  that  this 
emotion  has  an  intelligent  basis,  and  is  diredled  to  the  accom- 
plishment of  definite  ends.  The  freedom  of  such  services  gives 
the  leader  fine  opportunities  for  the  full  utilization  of  the  aggress- 
ive power  of  song.  It  affords  opportunities  for  passing  remarks 
that  are  often  richer  in  results  than  the  abler  and  sustained  ad- 
dresses against  which  the  unsaved  brace  themselves.  The  writer 
once  sang,  in  a  revival  service.  Bliss'  ' '  I  know  not  what  awaits 
me, ' '  and  spoke  of  the  sudden  death  of  Mr.  Bliss  soon  after  com- 
posing the  music  of  the  song,  as  illustrating  its  leading  thought. 
In  the  audience  was  a  young  man  for  whom  many  prayers  had 
arisen,  seemingly  in  vain,  and  who  had  just  that  day  returned 
from  a  trip  to  the  East.  The  mention  of  the  wreck  of  the  bridge  at 
Ashtabula  reminded  him  of  the  high  bridge  over  the  Ohio  River 
which  he  had  crossed  at  Bellaire  that  morning,  and  the  thought 
came  like  a  flash  that  if  that  bridge,  like  the  one  at  Ashtabula, 
had  gone  down,  his  soul  would  have  been  lost.  The  contrast  be- 
tween his  feeling  and  the  calm  trust  of  the  hymn  sung  only  deep- 
ened his  convidtion,  and  in  a  few  days  he  confessed  Christ  as  his 
Savior.  What  sermons  and  personal  entreaties  had  failed  to  ac- 
complish, this  passing  allusion  had  done.  Very  often  a  whole 
service  may  be  devoted  to  song,  these  comments  and  personal  ap- 
plications of  the  sentiments  of  the  songs  taking  the  place  of  the 
address  or  sermon.  In  this  way  song  services  become  a  powerful 
agency  for  winning  souls  to  Christ. 

A  large  number  of  hymn  anecdotes  follow.  They  are  gathered 
from  many  sources,  both  public  and  private.  In  addition  to  these, 
many  of  the  illustrations  of  the  body  of  the  book  will  find  their 
place  in  adding  interest  to  the  service  of  song.  One  of  the  in- 
dexes furnishes  the  numbers  of  the  anecdotes  illustrating  particu- 
lar hymns.  This  treasury  will  therefore  yield  the  skillful  worker 
abundant  materials  which  he  can  adapt  to  his  purpose  for  the 
children's  meeting,  the  prayer  meeting,  or  the  revival  service. 


12 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


"Praise  God,  from  Whom  Ali.  Bi^essings  Flow." 

I,  A  child  on  the  top  of  Mt.  Washington  was  with  her  father 
above  the  clouds,  while  a  thunder-storm  flashed  and  rumbled  be- 
low. Where  they  stood,  all  was  perfe(5l  calm  and  sunshine,  though 
the  eye  found  nothing  but  the  blue  of  heaven  and  a  few  rocks  and 
mosses  on  which  to  rest.  "Well,  Lucy,"  said  her  father,  "there 
is  nothing  to  be  seen  here,  is  there?"  But  the  child  exclaimed: 
"  O,  papa,  I  see  the  doxology  !  all  around  seems  to  say: 

**  'Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow, 
Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below.'" 


2.  This  doxology  was  a  great  solace  to  the  starving  "boys 
in  blue"  that  were  incarcerated  in  Libby  Prison.  Day  after  day 
they  saw  comrades  passing  away,  and  their  numbers  increased  by 
fresh,  living  recruits  for  the  grave.  One  night,  about  ten  o'clock, 
through  the  stillness  and  the  darkness,  they  heard  the  tramp  of 
coming  feet,  that  soon  stopped  before  the  prison  door  until  ar- 
rangements could  be  made  inside.  In  the  company  was  a  young 
Baptist  minister,  whose  heart  almost  fainted  as  he  looked  on  those 
cold  walls  and  thought  of  the  suffering  inside.  Tired  and  weary, 
he  sat  down,  put  his  face  in  his  hands,  and  wept.  Just  then  a  lone 
voice  of  deep,  sweet  pathos,  sung  out  from  an  upper  window, — 

"Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow," 

and  a  dozen  manly  voices  joined  in  the  second  line,  — 

"Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below;" 

and  then  by  the  time  the  third  was  reached,  more  than  a  score  of 
hearts  were  full,  and  these  joined  to  send  the  words  on  high, — 

"Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host;" 

and  by  this  time  the  prison  was  all  alive,  and  seemed  to  quiver 
with  the  sacred  song,  as  from  every  room  and  cell  those  brave 
men  sang,  — 

"Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost!" 

As  the  song  died  out  on  the  still  night  that  enveloped  in  darkness 
the  doomed  city  of  Richmond,  the  young  man  arose  and  happily 
said,  — 

"  Prisons  would  palaces  prove. 

If  Jesus  would  dwell  with  me  there." 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


13 


3,  In  the  great  cotton  famine  in  England,  wliicli  desolated  Lan- 
cashire  for  long  and  weary  months,  the  people,  men  and  women, 
went  into  the  Sunday-school  houses  and  prayed.  They  had  been 
taught  to  do  so,  and  they  were  upheld  in  the  time  of  trial  by  the 
truths  they  had  learned.  When  the  first  wagon -load  of  cotton 
arrived,  the  people  unhooked  the  horses  and  drew  it  themselves, 
and  surrounding  it,  began  to  sing — what  do  you  think  they  sang? 
They  sang  the  grand  old  doxology,  while  the  tears  came  flowing 
down  their  cheeks, — 

"Praise  God,  from  whon;  all  blessings  flow, 
Praise  Him,  all  creatures  here  below; 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host; 
Praise  Father,  vSon,  and  Holy  Ghost." 


4.  The  crew  of  a  British  man-of-war,  at  anchor  off  the  coast, 
heard  across  the  water  a  voice  singing  ' '  Old  Hundred, ' '  and  at 
once  conje(5lured  that  a  Christian  Englishman  was  there  on  the 
land,  held  in  slavery  by  the  Mohammedans. 

They  manned  a  boat,  rowed  ashore,  and  following  the  sound  of 
the  stranger's  devotions,  came  to  a  small  building  at  the  foot  of  a 
native  garden. 

^  Without  hesitation  they  burst  open  the  door,  snatched  the  cap- 
tive from  his  knees,  and  bore  him  rapidly  away,  in  utter  igno- 
rance of  where  he  was  going,  or  what  such  violence  meant.  When 
he  found  himself  on  the  deck  of  the  frigate,  among  his  fellow- 
countr>^men,  a  restored  British  citizen,  he  was  half  frantic  with 
joy.  He  said  he  at  first  supposed,  when  the  sailors  rushed  in  up- 
on him,  that  a  party  of  Turks  or  Arabs  had  come,  for  they  often 
assaulted  him  at  his  devotions  and  whipped  him  :when  on  his 
knees. 


5.  Still  more  vividly,  to  aid  a  pious  fancy  in  representing  a 
heavenly  fa(ft,  comes  to  mind  Bayard  Taylor's  description  of  the 
echoes  in  that  magnificent  East  Indian  mausoleum,  the  Taj  Mahal. 
He  says:  "Two  gentlemen  visited  the  Taj  together,  and  one  of 
them,  who  had  a  strong  voice,  sang  softly  the  tune  of  *  Old  Hun- 
dred,' *  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow.'  His  compan- 
ion, who  was  a  strong,  impulsive  man,  burst  into  tears.  Invisible 
beings  seemed  to  take  up  the  sweet  song  of  praise  until  the  echoes 
swelled  into  the  sound  of  many  voices,  as  if  a  heavenly  choir 
were  chanting  their  earnest  hymn." 


6.  One  of  the  singular  occasions  for  the  employment  of  the 
doxology  was  on  the  evening  of  Thursday,  Oc5tober  15,  1884,  when 


14 


THE  GOSPBL  worker's  TREASURY. 


a  great  crowd  filled  the  street  in  New  York  City  before  tlie  Repub- 
lican headquarters,  and  the  news  of  an  important  eledtion  in  Ohio 
was  received.  It  was  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  before  the  last 
bulletin  was  posted.  Previous  to  this  announcement  a  thousand 
voices  had  been  singing  uproariously,  "We  won't  go  home  till 
morning,"  but  the  moment  that  the  message  was  displayed  the 
stereopticon  flashed  out  the  line,  "Praise  God,  from  whom  all 
blessings  flow. "  "  Good  night. ' '  A  deep-voiced  man  in  the  throng 
pitched  the  doxology,  and  a  mighty  volume  of  song  swelled  up- 
ward. ^  Then  the  lights  went  out,  and  the  happy  watchers  departed 
to  their  homes.  If  a  political  vidtory  can  evoke  such  lofty  ex- 
pressions of  joy,  what  will  be  the  rapture  of  singing  this  same 
ascription  of  praise  when  the  kingdom  of  our  i^oxd  shall  have 
won  its  final  vi(5tory? 


"jKsus,  IvOVER  OP  My  Soul." 

7#  The  great  evangelist,  and  president  of  Oberlin  College, 
Charles  G.  Finney,  was  walking  about  his  grounds  not  long  be- 
fore his  death.  In  the  church  where  he  had  preached  for  forty 
years,  the  evening  service  had  just  begun.  Presently  he  heard 
this  hymn  floating  to  him  from  the  distance.  He  caught  it  up, 
sang  with  the  invisible  congregation,  and  joined  in  their  praises 
to  the  end.  Before  the  next  morning  he  had  joined  the  choir 
about  the  throne. 


8.  It  is  said  that  an  excursion  of  Sunday-school  teachers  and 
scholars  on  Lake  Winnipiseogee  was  saved  from  panic  and  dis- 
aster during  a  storm  by  the  singing  of  this  hymn.  It  almost 
seemed  as  if  the  clouds  broke  and  the  wind  allayed  while  the 
verses  were  being  sung. 


Mr.  Spurgeon  says:  "An  ungodly  stranger,  stepping  into 
one  of  our  services  at  Kxeter  Hall,  was  brought  to  the  Cross  by 
the  words  of  Wesley's  verse,  'Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul.'  'Does 
Jesus  love  me.-**  said  he;  'then  why  should  I  live  in  enmity  to 
him  " ' 


lo.  A  Mrs.  Lewis,  of  Norwich,  England,  many  years  ago  went 
to  hear  Mr.  Hook  preach  at  the  Tabernacle,  being  under  great  dis- 
tress of  mind.  She  had  determined  to  attend  divine  service  once 
more,  and  if  she  obtained  no  peace,  she  intended  then  to  drown 
herself.  The  first  hymn  which  the  preacher  announced  was, 
"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul,"  which  so  startled  her  and  suited  her 


HYMN  ANKCDOTBS. 


15 


condition  that  she  supposed  that  he  *'had  made  this  hymn  for 
her  sake,"  for  she  had  no  doubt  that  some  one  had  informed  him 
of  her  state  of  mind.  As  a  result  of  this  experience  she  was  hope- 
fully converted. 


rx.  A  chaplain  in  our  army  one  morning  found  Tom,  the  drum- 
mer-boy, a  great  favorite  with  all  the  men,  and  whom,  because  of 
his  sobriety  and  religious  example,  they  called  ' '  the  young  dea- 
con," sitting  alone  under  a  tree.  At  first  he  thought  him  asleep; 
but  as  he  drew  near,  the  boy  lifted  up  his  head,  and  he  saw  tears 
in  his  eyes.  ' '  Well,  Tom,  my  boy,  what  is  it  ? "  "  Why,  sir,  I  had 
a  dream  last  night  which  I  can't  get  out  of  my  mind."  "What 
was  it?"  "You  know  that  my  little  sister  Mary  is  dead — died 
when  ten  years  old.  My  mother  was  a  widow,  poor  but  good. 
She  never  seemed  like  herself  afterwards.  In  a  year  or  so,  she 
died  too;  and  then  I,  having  no  home  and  no  mother,  came  to  the 
war.  But  last  night  I  dreamed  the  war  was  over,  and  I  went  back 
to  my  home,  and  just  before  I  got  to  the  house,  my  mother  and 
little  sister  came  out  to  meet  me.  I  didn't  seem  to  remember  that 
they  were  dead.  How  glad  they  were !  O,  sir,  it  was  jmst  as 
real  as  you  are  real  now. "  "  Thank  God,  Tom, ' '  said  the  chaplain, 
"that  you  have  such  a  mother,  not  really  dead,  but  in  heaven, 
and  that  you  are  hoping,  through  Christ,  to  meet  her  again." 
The  boy  wiped  his  eyes  and  was  comforted. 

The  next  day  there  was  terrible  fighting.  Tom's  drum  was 
heard  all  day  long,  here  and  there.  Four  times  the  ground  was 
swept  by  the  contending  armies.  But  as  the  night  came  on,  both 
paused,  and  neither  dared  to  go  on  the  field,  lest  the  foe  should 
be  there.  Tom,  * '  the  young  deacon, ' '  it  was  known,  was  wounded 
and  left  upon  the  battle-field.  In  the  evening,  when  the  noise  of 
battle  was  over,  and  all  was  still,  they  heard  a  voice  singing,  away 
off  on  the  field.  They  felt  sure  it  was  Tom's  voice.  Softly  and 
beautifully  the  words  of  that  precious  hymn  floated  on  the  wings 
of  the  night,  — 

"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul." 

The  first  stanza  ended,  the  voice  began  the  second  more  softly, — 

"Other  refuge  have  I  none; 

Hangs  my  helpless  soul  on  thee; 
I<eave,  oh,  leave  me  not  alone ; 
Still  support  and  comfort  me." 

The  voice  stopped  here,  and  there  was  silence.  In  the  morning 
the  soldiers  went  out  and  found  Tom  sitting  on  the  ground,  and 
leaning  against  a  stump — dead.  His  soul  went  up  in  the  song. 
Did  his  mother  and  Mary  meet  him  ?   Who  can  say  ? 


16 


THE  GOSPKlv  worker's  TREASURY. 


r2.  Shortly  before  the  death  of  the  late  Baron  Rothschild,  he 
called  at  the  bookseller's  to  inquire  if  he  could  furnish  him  with 
a  hymn-book  containing  the  precious  hymn,  "Jesus,  lover  of  my 
soul."  Happy  for  him  if  in  his  closing  days  his  mind  and  heart 
were  turning  to  Him  who  is  ' '  the  hope  of  Israel  and  Savior  thereof 
in  time  of  trouble. ' ' 


13.  At  the  close  of  a  Sabbath  day's  service  in  a  village  on  the 
coast  of  Wales,  during  a  terrific  storm,  a  large  ship  was  seen  driv- 
ing before  the  gale  toward  the  rocky  shore,  where  inevitable  de- 
struction awaited  her  and  her  only  occupant.  Pastor  and  people 
were  assembled  on  the  beach.  Helpless  hands  were  wrung  with 
sorrow,  and  fervent  prayers  were  offered  for  the  doomed  mariner. 
' '  Could  we  not  send  him  a  message  ? ' '  cries  some  one.  A  trum- 
pet was  brought  and  put  into  the  pastor's  hand.  What  could  he 
say  to  one  who  was  just  sinking  into  eternity  ?  '  *  I^ook  to  Jesus ! ' ' 
he  cries.  "Can  you  hear?"  "Aye,  aye,  sir!"  was  heard  in  re- 
ply, more  distinctly  than  could  have  been  expedted.  Hark  !  he  is 
singing;  and  they  catch  here  and  there  the  words  of  his  dying 
song,— 

"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 

L,et  me  to  thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 

While  the  tempest  still  is  high. 
Hide  me,  oh,  my  Savior,  hide. 

Till  the  storm'of  life  be  past ; 
Safe  into  the  haven  guide. 

Oh,  receive  my  soul  at  last." 

The  voice  ceases;  the  singer  has  dropped  into  the  sea!  His 
prayer  has  been  granted,  and  he  has  joined  the  company  of  the 
redeemed  before  the  throne. 

14.  A  young  man  who  had  recklessly  left  his  home  to  seek  his 
fortune  in  his  own  way,  only  to  find  failure  and  disappointment, 
was  pacing  the  floor  of  his  boarding-house  chamber  one  sleepless 
night,  in  a  gloomy  and  desperate  mood,  when  he  heard  a  voice,  a 
soft  but  full  and  rich  voice  with  tears  in  it,  singing  the  hymn, 
"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul." 

He  silently  parted  the  shutters,  and  saw,  under  the  half-raised 
curtain  of  a  chamber  window  in  the  opposite  house,  a  death-bed 
scene. 

His  eyes  watched  it  and  his  ears  listened  with  a  strange  fasci- 
nation. The  singer,  whether  relation  or  friend,  was  holding  the 
dying  girl's  hand,  and  a  sorrowful  groitp  knelt  by  the  bed.  The 
song  went  on,  sweetly  and  tremulously,  till  at  the  words — 

"Thou,  O  Christ,  art  all  I  want," 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


17 


the  singer's  voice  broke,  and  the  watcher  knew  by  the  agitation 
in  the  chamber  that  the  fluttering  soul  had  passed  away. 

The  young  man  turned  from  his  window  and  knelt  down  and 
wept — wept  long,  and  prayed.  He  did  not  rise  from  his  knees 
till  he  had  made  all  the  words  of  that  hymn  his  own,  and  cast 
himself  forever  on  the  mercy  of  Christ. 


15.  A  coasting  vessel  once  went  on  the  rocks  in  a  gale  in  the 
English  Channel.  The  captain  and  crew  took  to  the  boats  and 
were  lost.  They  might  have  been  saved  had  they  remained  on 
board;  for  a  huge  wave  carried  the  vessel  up  among  the  rocks 
where  the  ebbing  tide  left  her  high  and  dry.  In  the  captain's 
cabin  a  hymn-book  was  found  Ijdng  on  his  table.  It  was  opened 
to  a  particular  page,  and  the  pencil  still  lay  in  it  which  had 
marked  the  favorite  lines  of  the  stout  sailor,  who  was  just  going 
into  the  jaws  of  death.  While  the  hurricane  was  howling  out- 
side, the  captain  had  drawn  his  pencil  beside  these  glorious  words 
of  cheer — 

"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 
Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 
While  the  tempest  still  is  high." 
Blessed  death  song! 


16.  Several  years  ago  a  ship  was  burned  near  the  English 
Channel.  Among  the  passengers  were  a  father,  mother,  and  their 
little  child,  a  daughter  not  i?iany  months  old.  There  was  great 
confusion,  and  the  family  was  separated.  The  father  was  rescued 
and  taken  to  Liverpool,  but  the  mother  and  infant  w^ere  carried 
overboard  by  the  crowd,  and,  unnoticed  by  the  rescuers,  drifted 
out  of  the  channel  with  the  tide,  the  mother  clinging  to  a  frag- 
ment of  the  wreck,  with  her  little  one  clasped  to  her  breast.  Thus 
she  floated  for  hours,  until  her  strength  was  well-nigh  exhausted. 
Tate  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  the  attention  of  the  captain  of  a 
vessel  bound  for  America  was  called  to  an  obje(5l  floating  in  the 
water  at  some  distance  off  which  looked  like  a  person  in  the  water. 
As  their  vessel  was  scarcely  moving,  it  was  thought  best  to  get 
out  a  boat  and  row  to  the  objecft.  As  they  drew  near,  the  sailors 
heard  a  female  voice  sweetly  singing.  As  with  a  common  im- 
pulse, the  men  stopped  rowing  and  listened,  and  then  the  words 
of  the  beautiful  hymn,  sung  by  this  trusting  Christian  woman, 
all  unconscious  that  deliverance  was  so  near,  came  over  the  waves 
to  their  ears, — 

"Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 

Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly." 

In  due  time  the  vessel  arrived  in  America.    The  mother  wrote 
2 


18 


THK  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


to  her  friends  in  England,  and  thus  the  father  learned  of  the  safety 
of  his  wife  and  child,  and  in  about  four  months  from  the  time  of 
their  separation,  they  were  happily  reunited. 


17.  A  sinful  woman  was  dying  in  a  New  York  tenement  house. 
A  minister  was  sent  for,  but  his  words  and  prayers  were  vain. 
She  said  again  and  again,  "It's  no  use;  I'm  too  wicked,  and  it's 
too  late."  At  length  the  clergyman  began  to  sing,  "Jesus,  lover 
of  my  soul,"  and  sang  two  verses.  Noticing  her  deep  interest, 
he  turned  to  her  and  asked,  * '  Can't  you  trust  him  now  ? ' '  With 
a  smile  of  joy  she  replied,  "Other  refuge  have  I  none."  Her 
happy  face  showed  her  acceptance  of  Jesus. 


"Rock  oe  Ages,  Ceeet  for  Me." 

18.  The  greatest  of  modern  hymns  had  its  spiritual  birthplace 
in  a  barn!  About  the  year  1756,  a  bright  lad  of  sixteen,  the  son 
of  Major  Toplady,  was  taken  by  his  widowed  mother  to  visit  some 
relatives  in  Ireland.  During  this  visit  at  the  hamlet  of  Cody- 
main,  an  earnest  layman  was  holding  evangelistic  services  in  a 
barn,  for  the  benefit  of  the  surrounding  peasantry.  The  young 
lad,  Augustus  Montague  Toplady,  was  attradled  to  the  place  by 
curiosity.  The  homespun  preacher's  text  that  day  was,  ' '  Ye  who 
sometime  were  far  off  are  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ." 
Up  to  that  time  the  boy  had  been  a  stranger  to  the  great  salva- 
tion, but  the  plain  discourse  led  him  to  Jesus.  He  was  converted 
that  day,  and  the  sermon  that  converted  him  gave,  in  the  end,  to 
Christendom  the  matchless  hymn,  '  *  Rock  of  Ages. ' ' 


19.  A  little  girl  of  my  acquaintance  was  once  looking  at  a 
picture  which  represents  a  rock  in  the  midst  of  a  stormy  sea, 
bearing  upon  its  summit  a  cross,  to  which  a  female  figure,  just  re- 
covered from  the  angry  waves,  clings,  faint  and  exhausted,  while 
at  her  feet  a  hand,  grasping  a  part  of  the  wreck,  is  just  disappear- 
ing in  the  dark  water.  '  *  What  does  that  mean  ? ' '  asked  the  child. 
"  It  is  called  the  *  Rock  of  Ages, ' ' '  was  the  answer.  ' '  That  means 
Jesus,  to  whom  we  cling  for  salvation.  You  know  the  hymn  says, 
'Simply  to  thy  cross  I  cling.'  "  "Oh,  yes,"  said  the  child,  after 
a  moment's  hesitation,  "but  that  rock  isn't  my  Jesus;  when  I 
cling  to  him,  he  reaches  down  and  clings  too." 


20 •  A  poor,  shabby-looking  man,  partially  intoxicated,  entered 
one  of  our  wealthy  and  fashionable  churches  during  service,  just 


HYMN  ANBCDOTKS. 


19 


at  the  close  of  tlie  second  hymn.  He  walked  all  the  way  up  the 
aisle,  and  seated  himself  near  the  pulpit,  no  one  (for  a  wonder) 
offering  to  stop  him.  During  the  sermon  he  fell  asleep,  and  his 
loud  snoring  attracted  so  much  attention  that  one  of  the  deacons 
rose  to  put  him  out.  Then  the  minister  interfered,  and  pleaded 
for  him.  "The  man  does  not  disturb  vie,'"  he  said.  "I  believe 
the  Lord  sent  him  in;  and  perhaps  he  will  wake  up  and  hear 
something  that  will  do  him  good.  Let  him  stay. ' '  The  singing 
of  the  last  hymn  awoke  the  drunkard  with  a  start.    It  was, 

"Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me." 

He  stood  up  awhile,  looking  around  bewildered,  and  then  sat 
down  again,  covering  his  face  with  his  hands.  Old  and  sacred 
memories  were  busy  with  him;  and  when  the  minister  came  down 
from  the  pulpit,  he  found  him  in  tears. 

That  poor  inebriate,  so  narrowly  saved,  by  Christian  forbear- 
ance, from  being  driven  out  of  the  meeting-house,  became  one  of 
the  members  of  that  church,  and  subsequently  one  of  its  deacons. 


21.  One  of  the  "Jubilee  Singers,"  a  student  of  Fisk  Univer- 
sity, was  on  board  a  steamer  that  took  fire.  He  had  presence  of 
mind  to  fix  life-preservers  on  himself  and  wife.  But  in  the  agony 
of  despair,  when  all  on  board  were  trying  to  save  themselves, 
some  one  took  from  his  wife  her  life-preserver,  so  that  she  found 
herself  helpless  amid  the  waters.  But  she  clung  to  her  husband, 
placing  her  hands  firmly  on  his  shoulders  as  he  swam  on.  After 
a  little  her  strength  was  exhausted.  "I  can  hold  on  no  longer," 
was  her  cry.  "Try  a  little  longer,"  was  her  husband's  agonized 
entreaty;  and  then  he  added,  "Let  us  sing  *  Rock  of  Ages.'  "  Im- 
mediately they  both  began  faintly  to  sing;  and  their  strains  fell 
upon  the  ears  of  many  around  them,  while  they  were  thus  seek- 
ing to  comfort  each  other.  One  after  another  of  the  nearly  ex- 
hausted swimmers  was  noticed  raising  his  head  above  the  waves 
and  joining  in  the  prayer, — 

"Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee,"  etc. 

Strength  seemed  to  come  with  the  song;  and  they  were  able  to 
hold  out  a  little  longer,  still  faintly  singing.  A  boat  was  seen 
approaching,  and  they  did  get  strength  enough  to  keep  them- 
selves afloat  till  the  crew  lifted  them  on  board.  And  thus  Top- 
lady's  hymn  helped  to  save  more  than  one  from  death  by  sea,  as 
it  has  often  helped  to  save  souls  ready  to  perish. 


20 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


22.  During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  an  Irish  corporal  named 
O'Lavery,  serving  under  lyord  Rawdon  in  South  Carolina,  was 
detailed,  with  a  single  comrade,  to  carr}-  an  important  dispatch 
through  a  section  of  country  held  by  the  Continental  forces.  He 
started  in  the  night  on  his  perilous  mission,  but  on  the  way  a 
shot  from  an  American  picket  killed  Ifis  companion  and  mortally 
wounded  him  in  the  side.  He  made  his  escape,  running  with  the 
dispatch  in  his  hand  until  disabled  by  the  loss  of  blood.  Then, 
perceiving  that  he  must  die,  and  determined  that  the  enemy 
should  not  discover  his  secret  trust,  he  crushed  the  important 
piece  of  paper  into  a  little  ball  and  crowded  it  into  his  wound. 
On  the  following  day  he  was  found  by  a  British  patrol,  and  was 
just  able  to  point  his  comrade  to  the  place  where  the  strangely- 
hidden  paper  lay,  before  he  breathed  his  last. 

There  is  a  message  from  heaven  in  every  wound  of  Christ. 
Held  forever  in  the  cleft  side  of  the  Rock  of  Ages,  the  "good, 
news ' '  so  vital  to  mankind  is  safe  from  infernal  theft. 


"Ali.  HaiIv  the  Power  oe  Jesus'  Name." 

23,  The  dying  words  of  the  author  of  this  hymn,  Rev.  Edward 
Perronet,  were,  "Glory  to  God  in  the  height  of  his  divinity!: 
Glory  to  God  in  the  depth  of  his  humanity !  Glory  to  God  in  his 
all-suf&ciency !    And  into  his  hands  I  commend  my  spirit ! ' ' 


24,  Some  fifty  years  ago  a  Methodist  local  preacher,  named 
William  Dawson,  a  man  of  genius,  was  preaching  on  the  Divine 
offices  of  Christ.  He  had  portrayed  the  Savior  as  teacher  and 
priest,  and  he  proceeded  to  set  forth  his  glory  as  a  king  in  his  own 
right  over  saints  and  angels.  Kindling  at  the  thought,  he  drew 
the  pidlure  of  a  coronation  pageant.  The  great  procession  was 
arrayed.  Prophets  and  patriarchs,  apostles  and  martyrs,  moved 
grandly  on.  The  vast  temple  was  filled,  and  at  the  climax  of  the 
thought  the  preacher  suddenly  broke  from  his  ordinary  tone,  and 
sang  with  startling  effect, — 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 
.    I^et  angels  prostrate  fall  ; 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  him  L,ord  of  all!" 

The  effecft  was  overwhelming.  The  crowd  sprang  to  their  feet, 
and  sang  the  hymn  with  a  feeling  and  a  power  which  seemed  to 
swell  higher  and  higher  at  every  verse. 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


21 


25.  Rev.  B.  P.  Scott,  a  missionary  in  India,  decided  to  visit  an 
interior  tribe  of  murderous  mountaineers  who  had  not  received 
the  gospel.  After  two  days  travel,  he  was  suddenly  confronted 
by  members  of  the  tribe  which  he  sought,  who  pointed  their 
spears  at  his  heart.  Kxpedting  nothing  but  instant  death,  he 
drew  out  a  violin  he  had  with  him,  shut  his  eyes,  and  commenced 
to  play  and  sing,  "All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name  ! "  At  the 
stanza,  "Let  every  kindred,  every  tribe,"  he  ventured  to  open 
his  eyes,  and  found  an  altogether  different  state  of  affairs.  It  was 
the  commencement  of  a  residence  of  two  years  and  a  half,  and  its 
results  were  great. 


26,  A  teacher  once  asked  a  child,  ' '  If  you  had  a  golden  crown, 
^hat  would  you  do  with  it  ?  "  The  child  replied,  ' '  I  would  give 
it  to  my  father  to  keep  till  I  was  a  man."  He  asked  another;  "I 
would  buy  a  coach  and  horses  with  it, ' '  was  the  reply.  He  asked 
a  third;  "Oh,"  said  the  little  girl  to  whom  he  vSpoke,  "I  would 
do  with  it  the  same  as  the  people  in  heaven  do  with  their  crowns, 
—  I  would  cast  it  at  the  Savior's  feet." 


There  is  a  Fountain  Fili^Ed  with  Blood." 

27.  A  man  of  violent  prejudices  against  religion,  and  espe- 
cially against  clergymen,  owing  to  the  unworthy  condudl  of  a 
former  ministerial  friend,  met  with  a  severe  injury,  his  arm  being 
drawn  into  machinery  and  crushed  so  that  amputation  was  neces- 
sary. It  was  at  first  doubtful  if  the  patient  would  rally,  but 
finally  he  was  heard  to  murmur  something,  and  as  a  friend  bent 
over  to  catch  the  words,  he  distincftly  caught  the  language  of  the 
stanza: 

"The  dying  thief  rejoiced  to  see 
That  fountain,  in  his  day, 
And  there  may  I,  though  vile  as  he. 
Wash  all  my  sins  away. ' ' 

It  was  a  confession  of  faith  upon  what  seemed — though  provi- 
dentially it  was  not — the  very  edge  of  death. 


28.  Catharine  Harris  was  a  foundling,  residing  near  the  city 
of  Canterbury.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  through  exposure,  she  be- 
came consumptive.  When  her  pastor  visited  her,  he  expressed  a 
hope  that  she  found  comfort  by  reading  the  Bible.  She  replied 
that  nothing  else  would  give  her  comfort  now,  excepting  that  one 
liymn  she  loved  so  much,  "There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood." 


22 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


She  said  deatli  had  lost  its  sting;  and  the  morning  afterward  she 
entered  into  rest. 


29.  During  the  last  revival  in  Ireland,  Belfast  had  a  large 
share  in  its  blessing.  Soon  after  it  began,  the  curate  of  the  parish 
visited  one  of  the  fadlories  in  which  two  hundred  girls  were  em- 
plo3'ed.  On  his  entering  the  building  with  the  manager,  a  young 
woman  near  the  door,  seeing  her  minister,  began  to  sing  with  a 
vers'  sweet  voice,  "There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood,"  to  the 
touching  and  well-known  tune.  The  girl  next  to  her  took  it  up, 
and  so  onward  it  rang  down  the  mill,  till  all  the  girls  joined  with 
deep  and  heart-felt  fer\^ency.  Great  as  was  the  noise  of  the  looms, 
the  tender  and  subduing  voice  of  praise  rose  above  the  din  and 
clatter  of  the  machinery.  They  wanted  no  books  to  sing  that 
hymn;  it  was  well  known  to  all  there.  The  manager,  a  Man- 
chester man  and  an  infidel,  and  ever  on  the  alert  to  make  ridicule 
of  religion,  was  so  overcome  by  that  outburst  of  psalmod}^  that 
he  ran  out  of  the  mill.  jNleeting  the  curate  afterward,  he  said: 
"I  was  never  so  hard  put  to  it  as  this  morning;  it  nea.rlj  broke 
me  down."  How  the  author,  Cowper,  would  have  been  cheered 
to  have  heard  that  chorus  ! 


30.    Lieutenant  G  ,  an  ofiicer  of  the  Union  army,  having 

received  his  death-wound  in  a  gallant  charge  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment,  was  visited  in  the  hospital  tent  b^^  the  chaplain,  who 
inquired  how  he  felt.  He  said  he  had  always  been  cheerful,  and 
was  now  ready  to  meet  God  in  peace.  He  added:  "Chaplain,  I 
was  once  passing  through  the  streets  of  New  York  one  Sunday, 
and  heard  singing.  I  went  in  and  saw  a  company-  of  poor  people. 
They  were  singing,  'There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood.'  I 
was  overpowered  with  the  impression  the  h^-mn  made  upon  me, 
and  I  gave  my  heart  to  God.  Since  then  I  have  loved  Jesus,  and 
I  love  him  now. ' '  That  was  his  last  speech.  The  minister  said, 
"Trust  Jesus!"  and  the  officer  whispered,  "I  do  trust  Jesus," 
and  then  expired. 


3r,  A  notorious  robber  of  New  York  grew  wear^'  of  his  sinful 
life,  and  wanted  to  become  a  Christian,  but  almost  despaired  of 
being  saved.  A  Christian  man  talked  and  prayed  with  him,  but 
could  not  give  him  any  encouragement.  At  last  he  sang  the  first 
words  of — 

"There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood," 

but  the  poor  man  said,  "There  is  nothing  in  that  for  me."  He 
then  sang  the  second  stanza, — 


HYMN  ANE:cDOTKS. 


23 


**The  dying-  thief  rejoiced  to  see 
That  fountain,  in  his  day, 
And  there  may  I,  though  vile  as  he, 
Wash  all  my  sins  away. ' ' 

**That  means  me,"  said  the  penitent  robber.  Hope  sprung  up 
in  his  heart,  and  he  was  soon  after  happily  converted. 


32.  A  poor  Sabbath-school  scholar  fell  down  a  hatchway  and 
broke  his  hip.  The  dodlor  pronounced  him  internally  injured, 
and  that  nothing-  could  be  done  for  him.  The  boy's  teacher  was 
sent  for  and  was  surprised  at  the  greeting  he  received.  "Teacher, 
you  are  just  in  time  to  hear  my  great  joy;  I  am  going  home  to 
Jesus."  "I  did  not  know  you  ever  thought  about  such  things, 
John,"  said  the  teacher;  "how  long  have  you  felt  so.?"  "Dear 
teacher,  you  never  asked  me;  I  have  been  longing  to  have  you 
ask  me  for  six  months.  Now  sing  my  favorite  hymn  with  me, 
dear  teacher."    And  while  they  sang  the  sweet  words, — 

"And  sinners  plunged  beneath  that  flood, 
lyose  all  their  guilty  stains," 

the  messenger  came  to  call  the  lad  home. 


"Alas!  and  did  my  Savior  Ble:ed?" 

33.  At  the  Soldiers'  Cemetery  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  a 
stranger  was  once  seen  planting  a  flower  upon  a  grave.  When 
asked  if  some  relative  was  buried  there,  he  replied:  "No;  when 
the  war  broke  out,  I  was  too  poor  to  enlist,  as  I  had  a  wife  and 
seven  children  to  support.  I  was  drafted,  but  had  no  money  to 
hire  a  substitute,  and  made  up  my  mind  to  go.  After  I  was  all 
ready  to  start,  a  young  man  came  to  me  and  said:  'You  have  a 
large  family,  which  your  wife  cannot  take  care  of,  I  will  go  for 
you.'  He  did  go  in  my  place,  and  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
he  was  wounded  and  taken  to  Nashville,  where  he  died.  Ever 
since  I  have  wished  to  come  and  see  his  grave.  So  I  have  saved 
up  all  the  spare  money  I  could,  and  came  on  and  found  my  friend's 
grave. ' '  He  then  took  the  head-board  and  fixed  it  into  the  ground 
at  the  head  of  the  grave.  It  bore  the  soldier's  name,  and  under- 
neath were  the  words,  ' '  He  died  for  me. ' ' 


34.  The  evangelist,  K.  P.  Hammond,  ascribes  his  conversion 
to  this  hymn.  It  was  at  Southington,  Connedlicut,  when  he  was 
seventeen,  and  not  at  any  time  of  revival. 


24 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


35.  A  converted  Japanese  was  explaining  the  atonement.  He 
used  this  touching  illustration.  A  woman  was  crossing  the  great 
plain.  She  carried  a  child  on  her  back.  When  in  the  midst  of 
the  plain  she  suddenl}^  looked  behind  her,  and  saw  that  it  was 
afire.  She  had  but  a  moment  to  think.  She  laid  down  the  child, 
desperately  scooped  with  her  hands  a  hole  in  the  earth,  with  trem- 
bling haste  laid  the  child  in  it,  and  covered  it  with  her  own  body. 
There  they  found  the  two.  The  poor  mother  was  dead,  but  the 
child  was  saved.  ' '  So  Jesus  died  for  me, ' '  said  the  simple-hearted 
convert.  ' '  That  I  might  live,  he  put  his  body  between  me  and 
everlasting  fire. ' ' 


36.  In  1872,  on  the  coast  of  Scotland,  seven  young  boys 
rowed  out  to  sea  to  fish.  The  boat  was  too  small,  and  the  boys 
having  suddenly  gone  to  one  side,  she  upset,  and  all  the  seven 
were  plunged  into  the  sea,  not  far  from  land.  One  little  fellow 
alone  could  swim,  a  boy  not  3^et  thirteen  years  old,  — let  his  name 
be  recorded, — Alexander  Sutherland.  One  after  another,  that 
boy  saved  five  of  his  companions.  In  trying  to  save  the  sixth, 
he  became  himself  exhausted  and  sank  to  rise  no  more.  The  five 
whom  he  had  rescued  were  restored  to  their  weeping  parents,  but 
the  brave  little  swimmer  w^ho  had  saved  his  fellows  sank  and  was 
drowned,  and  they  laid  him  in  his  grave  upon  the  shore. 


37.  Mayor  Prince,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  related  recently 
an  incident  he  had  heard  from  General  Averill,  who  had  com- 
manded in  the  United  States  Army  in  Arizona.  The  General 
stated,  that  while  he  was  there,  an  Indian  slew  a  white  man,  and 
then  made  his  escape  to  the  woods.  Orders  came  from  Washing- 
ton to  demand  the  murderer  from  his  tribe,  and  to  inform  them 
that  unless  he  was  delivered  on  a  certain  day,  war  would  be  made 
on  the  whole  tribe. 

The  Indian  chiefs,  with  their  followers,  searched  faithfully  for 
the  murderer,  but  could  not  find  him.  They  tried  to  obtain  more 
time;  but  the  commander's  instru(5lions  were  peremptory.  The 
culprit  must  be  surrendered  on  the  given  day,  or  war  would  be- 
gin. Another  thorough  search  was  made,  but  with  no  result,  and 
sadly  the  chiefs  met  in  council  to  consider  what  to  do. 

After  some  time  spent  in  hopeless  discussion,  one  warrior  arose 
and  said,  "Brothers,  we  cannot  find  this  man.  The  white  men 
will  make  war,  and  our  women  and  children  will  be  killed,  and 
our  tribe  will  be  destroyed.  Take  me  and  shoot  me,  and  give  my 
body  to  the  commander  of  the  white  men's  army."  And  after  a 
while  this  was  done.  The  warrior  was  shot,  and  his  body  was 
laid  at  the  feet  of  the  officers. 


HYMN  ANBCDOTKS. 


25 


38.  When  Dr.  Doddridge  lived  at  Northampton,  there  was  a 
poor  Irishman  condemned  for  sheep-stealing.  In  those  days  the 
statute-book  of  England  was  very  cruel.  He  thought  that  there 
was  scarcely  proof  of  the  man's  guilt,  and  he  believed  in  the 
Book  that  teaches  that  a  man  is  better  than  a  vSheep.  He  traveled, 
toiled,  and  tried  hard  to  get  that  man  a  reprieve,  but  unsuccess- 
full}^;  he  came  back,  and  the  man  was  hanged.  On  the  road  to 
•execution,  the  convi(5l  got  them  to  stop  the  cart  just  opposite  Dr. 
Doddridge's  house,  and  kneeling  down,  he  said:  "God  bless  you. 
Dr.  Doddridge;  every  vein  in  my  heart  loves  you,  every  drop  of 
my  blood  loves  you,  for  you  tried  to  save  every  drop  of  it. ' '  There 
was  a  man  !  What  love  he  had  for  the  intercessor  who  had  failed! 
But  Christ  has  succeeded,  and  what  a  price  He  has  given  !  Oh, 
that  every  one  would  feel  this,  and  be  led  to  exclaim,  ' '  Every  vein 
of  my  heart  loves  thee,  O  Christ!  every  drop  of  my  blood  loves 
thee,  for  thou  hast  died  to  save  me. ' ' 


"Hb  Lkadeth  Me!  O,  Blessed  Thought!" 

39.  A  little  girl  and  her  papa  were  on  their  way  home,  hand 
in  hand,  when  the  child  in  her  playfulness  said,  ' '  Now,  papa, 
let's  play  I  was  a  poor  blind  girl,  and  you  must  let  me  hold  your 
hand  tight,  and  you  must  lead  me  along,  and  tell  me  where  to 
step  and  how  to  go."  So  the  merry  blue  eyes  were  shut  tight, 
and  the  walk  began.  ' '  Now  step  up, "  "  Now  step  down, ' '  ' '  Here 
we  go  around  the  corner,"  and  so  on,  until  they  reached  home, 
when  the  little  one  said,  "Wasn't  it  nice,  papa?  I  never  peeped 
once."  "But,"  said  her  mamma,  "didn't  you  feel  afraid  you 
would  fall,  dear  ? ' '  With  a  look  of  trusting  love,  came  the  answer, 
"O,  no,  mamma;  I  had  tight  hold  of  papa's  hand,  and  I  knew 
he  would  take  me  safely  over  the  hard  places." 


40.  The  editor  of  this  work  met  a  German  student  in  the 
Alps,  who  was  making  an  endeavor  to  see  all  the  principal  glories 
of  Switzerland  during  his  short  vacation.  He  was  venturing 
everywhere  without  a  guide,  and  replied  to  all  expostulation  that 
his  guide-book  and  his  own  good  judgment  were  sufficient  to 
carry  him  safely  through.  Two  weeks  later  the  papers  stated 
that  he  had  fallen  over  a  precipice  in  another  part  of  the  Alps, 
and  had  been  dashed  to  pieces. 


41.  A  gentleman  ^vho  had  passed  through  the  Cave  of  the 
Winds  at  Niagara,  said:  "Amid  all  the  terrible  uproar,  the  horri- 


26 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


ble  confusion,  the  difficulty*  in  getting  my  breath.,  the  slippery^ 
rocks,  the  dashing  streams  of  water  from  every*  side,  I  felt  no  fear, 
for  I  knew  that  my  guide  had  gone  that  way  before  and  knew 
every  foot  of  the  dangerous  path;  moreover,  I  also  knew  that  he 
had  taken  hundreds  of  others  along  that  way,  and  brought  them 
through  safely.  I  therefore  rather  enjoy-ed  the  discomforts  of  the 
trip,  as  a  new  and  interesting  experience." 


"When  I  Can  Read  my  Title  Clear." 

42.  An  agent  of  the  American  Tracl  Society,  visiting  Pitts- 
burg Landing  just  after  the  battle,  found  among  the  wounded  a 
Baptist  clergyman,  a  personal  friend,  who  had  enlisted  as  lieuten- 
ant, and  also  acted  as  chaplain.  When  the  news  of  the  battle 
came,  he  was  just  burying  one  of  his  comrades,  and  in  view  of 
the  approaching  battle,  his  prayer  impressed  all  those  who  were 
present.  Several  said  it  could  never  be  forgotten.  The  lieuten- 
ant-chaplain soon  fell,  severely-  wounded,  and  lay  without  water 
or  help,  within  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  for  more  than  twenty-four 
hours.  Shot  and  shell  were  falling  around  him,  but  he  declared 
that  he  never  enjoyed  a  sweeter  and  more  precious  experience. 
Several  times  he  found  himself  singing  the  above  hymn.  His 
sufferings  were  terrible,  but  the  God  who  watches  over  all  his 
children  shielded  him  with  such  particular  love  that  he  reached 
his  home  in  safety  some  days  later. 


43.  A  Western  captain  lay  on  the  battle-field  at  Shiloh,  suf- 
fering greatly  from  a  fatal  gun-shot  wound  through  both  thighs, 
and  from  thirst.  He  said:  ' '  The  stars  shone  out  clear  and  beauti- 
ful above  the  dark  field,  and  I  began  to  think  of  that  great  God 
who  had  given  his  Son  to  die  a  death  of  agony  for  me,  and  that 
he  was  up  there — up  above  the  scene  of  suffering,  and  I  felt  that  I 
was  going  home  to  meet  him  and  praise  him  there,  and  I  felt  that 
I  ought  to  praise  God,  though  wounded  and  on  the  battle-field.  I 
could  not  help  singing  that  beautiful  hymn  commencing,  '  ^^'hen 
I  can  read  my  title  clear'-;  and,"  said  he,  "there  was  a  Christian 
in  the  brush  near  me.  I  could  not  see  him,  but  I  could  hear  him. 
He  took  up  the  strain,  and,  bey-ond  him,  another,  and  another, 
and  we  made  that  bloody  field  ring  with  that  hymn  of  lofty  cheer. ' ' 


"Blessed  be  the  Tie  that  Bixds." 

44.  Dr.  John  Fawcett,  the  author  of  this  precious  hymn,  was 
called  to  a  large  London  church,  after  having  spent  a  few  years  as 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


27 


the  pastor  of  an  obscure  little  Baptist  cliurcli  in  Yorkshire.  He 
accepted  the  call,  and  preached  his  farewell  sermon.  Six  or  seven 
wagons  were  loaded  with  his  furniture  and  books,  and  all  was 
ready  for  the  departure.  But  his  loving  people  were  not  ready; 
they  gathered  about  him,  and  "men,  women,  and  children  clung 
around  him  and  his  family  in  perfe(5t  agony  of  soul."  Looking 
up  through  her  tears,  his  wife  exclaimed:  "Oh,  John,  John,  I 
cannot  bear  this  !  I  know  not  how  to  go  ! "  "  Nor  I,  either, ' '  said 
the  good  man;  "nor  will  we  go.  Unload  the  wagons,  and  put 
everything  in  the  place  where  it  was  before."  This  determina- 
tion was  hailed  with  joy  by  those  around,  and  a  letter  was  at  once 
sent  to  London,  explaining  the  case.  This  hymn  was  written  to 
commemorate  the  event. 


45.  Mr.  Moody  tells  the  story  of  a  Sunday-school  teacher  tO' 
whom  he  had  given  a  class  of  girls.  One  day  he  came  into  Mr. 
Moody's  store  disheartened  and  sad.  He  had  suffered  from  hem- 
orrhage of  the  lungs,  and  was  ordered  away  from  the  bleak  winds 
of  Lake  Michigan.  It  was  probably  only  to  reach  home  and  die, 
and  he  felt  that  he  had  not  made  a  true  effort  to  save  the  souls  of 
his  class.  His  despair  over  this  result  induced  Mr.  Moody  to  pro- 
pose that  they  should  go  together  and  visit  each  of  the  young 
ladies.  They  took  a  carriage  and  began  their  work,  the  teacher, 
in  his  feebleness,  saying  what  he  could  to  each.  After  about  ten 
days  of  this  diredl  and  faithful  effort,  every  one  had  yielded  her 
heart  to  Christ. 

At  a  farewell  meeting,  where  all  were  gathered,  they  endeavored 
to  sing  this  hymn,  but  their  hearts  were  fullj  and  their  voices 
failed.  They  w^ere  all  at  the  railway  station,  and  the  teacher, 
happy  in  the  thought  of  what  he  had  been  permitted  to  do  and 
see,  but  pale  and  feeble  from  his  illness,  stood  on  the  platform  of 
the  car,  pointing  upward  as  the  train  moved  away. 


"When  I  Survey  the  Wondrous  Cross." 

46.  Dr.  Hall  tells  the  story  of  a  Scotchman  who  sang  most 
piously  the  hymn, — 

"Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 
That  were  a  present  far  too  small," 

and  all  through  the  singing  was  fumbling  in  his  pocket  to  make 
sure  of  the  smallest  piece  of  silver  for  the  contribution  box  ! 


47,    Father  Ignatius  was  about  to  preach  at  a  well-known 


28 


THE  GOSPKI/  worker's  TREASURY. 


London  churcli.  The  above  hymn  of  Dr.  Watts'  was  sung  before 
the  sermon,  and  when  it  ended  the  preacher  slowly  repeated  the 
last  line, — 

"Demands  my  soul,  my  life,  my  all," 

adding,  "Well,  I  am  surprised  to  hear  you  sing  that.  Do  you 
know  that  altogether  you  put  only  fifteen  shillings  into  the  bag 
this  morning?" 


"Safe  in  the  Arms  of  Jesus." 

48.  In  a  report  of  the  McCall  Mission  in  France,  an  affe(5ling 
incident  concerning  this  hymn  is  related.  A  dying  girl  was  de- 
lighted when  they  sang  to  her  in  French,  "Safe  in  the  arms  of 
Jesus."  She  asked  a  young  friend  who  came  to  her  sick-room, 
if  she  loved  her.  "Yes,"  was  the  reply.  "And  I  have  another 
friend  who  loves  me;  do  you  know  him?"  "Jesus,  you  mean. 
Oh,  yes,  he  is  my  best  friend."  When  she  knew  that  she  must 
die,  she  sent  a  message  to  her  absent  brother:  "Tell  him  that  I 
want  him  to  love  Jesus  as  I  have  learned  to  love  him. ' '  Her  nurse 
repeated  the  verse,  ' '  They  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst 
any  more. ' '  Julie  smiled,  and  said,  * '  How  blessed  that  is !  Thank 
you. ' ' 


49.  Two  little  girls  were  playing  with  their  dolls  in  a  corner 
of  the  nursery,  and  singing  as  they  played, — 

"  Safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus,"  etc. 

Mother  was  busy  writing,  only  stopping  now  and  then  to  listen 
to  the  little  ones'  talk,  unobserved  by  them. 

"Sister,  how  do  you  know  you  are  safe?"  asked  Nellie,  the 
younger  of  the  two. 

' '  Because  I  am  holding  Jesus  with  both  my  two  hands — tight ! ' ' 
promptly  replied  sister. 

"Ah!  that's  not  safe,"  said  the  other  child.  "Suppose  Satan 
came  along,  and  cut  your  two  hands  off!" 

The  sister  looked  very  much  troubled  for  a  few  moments, 
dropped  poor  dolly,  and  thought  deeply.  Suddenly  h'cr  face 
shone  with  joy,  and  she  cried  out,  "Oh!  I  forgot!  I  forgot!  Jesus 
is  holding  me  with  his  two  hands,  and  Satan  can't  cut  his  hands 
off';  so  I  am  safe  ! " 


"I  AM  so  GivAD  THAT  OUR  FATHER  IN  HEAVEN." 

50.  Mr.  Sankey  relates  that  a  little  dying  girl,  one  of  his 
^Thursday  evening  singing  class,  bore  beautiful  testimony  to  the 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


29' 


power  of  this  hymn.  "Don't  you  remember,"  she  said,  "one 
Thursday  when  you  were  teaching  me  to  sing,  '  I  am  so  glad  that 
Jesus  loves  me,'  and  don't  you  remember  how  you  told  us  that  if 
we  only  gave  our  hearts  to  him  he  would  love  us  ?  And  I  gave 
mine  to  him."  "What  that  dying  little  girl  said  to  me,"  adds 
Mr.  Sankey,  ' '  helped  to  cheer  me  on  more  than  anything  I  had 
heard  before,  because  she  was  my  first  convert." 


51.  A  missionary  of  the  Sunday-School  Union  sang  this  song 
in  a  hamlet  in  Missouri,  where  he  had  just  organized  a  Sunday- 
school.  He  then  put  the  question,  "Are  you  glad?  If  not, 
why  ? ' '  when  a  young  man  in  the  deepest  emotion  rushed  up  to 
him,  threw  his  arms  around  his  neck,  and  besought  his  prayers. 
"Oh,  that  song !  "  he  cried.  "I  could  not  get  away  from  it,  and 
it  has  saved  me  ! ' ' 


52.  Willie,  the  boy  of  a  drunkard,  who  had  been  induced  to 
attend  a  ragged  school,  sat  singing  to  himself  one  evening  in  his 
miserable  home, — 

"  I  am  so  glad  that  Jesus  loves  me." 

"Stop  that,"  roared  his  father,  and  Willie  was  silent;  but  soon, 
with  the  forgetfulness  of  children,  he  began  again,  "  I  am  so 
glad."  This  time  he  was  ordered  to  bed,  and  though  he  went 
quietly  enough,  the  words  kept  ringing  in  his  head,  and  he  felt 
he  could  not  be  unhappy  now  that  was  true.  In  the  middle  of 
the  night  he  was  awakened  by  hearing  his  name  called:  "Willie, 
Willie,  sing  that  again."  There  sat  his  father  beside  his  bed.  So 
Willie  sat  up  and  sang  the  hymn.  "  Is  it  all  true,  Willie  ?  "  "  All 
true,  father;  Jesus  died  for  you  and  me,  father,  so  he  must  love 
us."  "Oh,  Willie,  could  you  pray  for  me.?"  "I  don't  know 
what  to  say,  father."  "Say  I'm  the  biggest  vSinner  on  earth,  but 
I  want  Jesus  to  love  me  and  make  me  good. ' '  So  Willie  prayed, 
and  his  prayer  was  soon  answered.  His  father  became  a  tem- 
perate and  pious  man. 


"When  the  King  Comes  In." 

53.  A  minister  was  introduced  to  a  prominent  man  of  busi- 
ness by  a  mutual  friend,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation  said, 
' '  Our  friend  here  tells  me  that  you  never  go  to  church.  I  hope 
he  slanders  you."  "Not  at  all,"  said  the  business  man;  "I 
usually  spend  Sunday  straightening  up  my  accounts. "  "  Indeed  ! 
you  will  find  that  the  Day  of  Judgment  will  be  spent  in  the  same 
manner, ' '  said  the  clergyman. 


so  THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASIIRY. 

54.  There  was  an  tindeiwitted  but  faith-filled  Scotch,  lad  in 
this  countrs',  at  the  time  of  the  great  meteoric  shower  of  November, 
1S33.  ^\^len,  on  ever}'  side,  men  and  women  were,  that  night,  in 
terror  at  the  thought  that  the  final  hour  of  doom  had  come,  this 
lad's  mother  aroused  him  from  his  sleep  with  a  cr^-,  "  Sandv, 
Sand}^,  get  up,  will  you?  The  Da^'  of  Judgment  has  comef" 
Instantly  the  bo}'  was  alive  to  that  call,  an"d  was  on  his  feet, 
shouting,  "  Glor}^  to  God,  I'm  read}- ! ' ' 


"Depth  of  Mercy,  Cax  There  Be?" 

55.  An  actress,  in  one  of  the  provincial  towns,  while  passing 
along  the  street,  had  her  attention  arrested  hy  singing  in  a  cot- 
tage. Curiosit}'  prompted  her  to  look  in  at  the  open  door,  when 
she  saw  a  few  poor  people  sitting  together,  one  of  whom  was  giv- 
ing out  this  h^'mn,  which  all  joined  in  singing.  The  words  had 
riveted  her  attention,  and,  on  invitation,  she  remained  during  a 
pra^-er  which  was  uncouth  in  language,  but  evidenth'  earnest  and 
sincere.  The  words  of  the  h^^mn  followed  her,  and  she  procured 
a  copy  of  the  book  containing  it,  reading  and  re-reading  it.  It 
led  her  to  give  her  heart  to  God,  and  she  resolved  to  leave  the 
stage.  The  manager  of  the  theater  called  to  ask  her  to  sustain 
the  principal  character  in  a  new  pla}-,  which  she  had  made  popu- 
lar in  other  cities,  but  she  refused.  He  insisted  and  urged  her  so 
vehemently  that  she  finally  promised  to  appear  at  the  theater. 
As  the  curtain  rose,  the  orchestra  began  to  plaA'  the  accompani- 
ment of  the  song  which  opened  the  play.  But  the  actress  stood 
like  one  lost  in  thought,  and  the  band,  supposing  her  embarrassed, 
played  the  prelude  a  second  and  a  third  time.  Then,  with  clasped 
hands  and  suffused  eves  she  sang — not  the  song  of  the  play, 
but,— 

"  Depth  of  mercy,  can  there  be 
Mercy  still  reserved  for  me  ?  " 

The  performance  suddenly  ended;  not  a  few  were  impressed,  al- 
though many  scoffed.  The  change  in  her  life  was  as  permanent 
as  it  was  singular,  and  she  at  length  became  the  wife  of  a  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel. 


"Trusting  ix  the  Promise." 

56.  An  old  Negro  slave  in  Virginia,  remarkable  for  his  uni- 
formly happy  piety,  was  once  questioned  by  a  Christian  white 
man  who  did  not  enjoy  the  same  experience:  "Jack,  you  seem  to 
be  always  comfortable  in  the  hope  of  the  gospel.    I  wish  you 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


31 


^ould  tell  me  how  you  manage  it,  to  keep  steadily  in  this  blessed 
frame  of  mind."  "Why,  mas'r,"  said  Jack,  "I  jes'  fall  flat  on 
de  promise,  an'  I  pray  right  up." 


"Take  My  I^iee  and  I^et  It  Be." 

57,  The  origin  of  this  hymn  of  Miss  Havergal  is  very  inter- 
esting and  helpful.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  she  writes:  "Perhaps 
you  will  be  interested  to  know  the  origin  of  the  consecration 
hymn,  'Take  My  Life.'  I  went  for  a  little  visit  of  five  days. 
There  were  ten  persons  in  the  house,  some  unconverted  and  long- 
prayed  for,  some  converted  but  not  rejoicing  Christians.  He  gave 
me  the  prayer,  '  Lord,  give  me  all  in  'this  house  ! '  And  He  just 
did.  Before  I  left  the  house,  every  one  had  got  a  blessing.  The 
last  night  of  my  visit  I  was  too  happy  to  sleep,  and  passed  most 
of  the  night  in  praise  and  renewal  of  my  own  consecration,  and 
these  little  couplets  formed  themselves  and  chimed  in  my  heart, 
one  after  another,  till  they  finished  with  'Ever,  only,  all  for 
Thee. ' " 


"Arise,  My  SouIv,  Arise." 

58.  Rev.  Matthew  Cranswick,  a  Wesleyan  missionary,  for- 
merly laboring  in  the  West  Indies,  certifies  that  he  has  a  record 
of  upward  of  two  hundred  persons,  young  and  old,  who  received 
the  most  diredt  evidence  of  the  forgiveness  of  their  sins  while 
singing  this  hymn. 


"WONDERFUE  lyOVE  OF  JESUS." 

59.  Dr.  Ray  Palmer  tells  this  story.  A  Christian  mother  and 
authoress  told  him  that  her  son,  whom  she  had  advised  to  unite 
with  the  Church,  had  a  difiiculty.  * '  I  don't  see,  mother,  the  great 
merit  in  Christ's  dying  for  us.  If  I  could  save  a  dozen  men  by 
•dying  for  them,  I  think  I  would;  much  more,  if  there  were  mill- 
ions of  them."  "But,  my  son,  would  you  die  for  a  dozen  grass- 
hoppers ? ' '  That  set  him  thinking.  After  a  few  days  he  came  to 
her  with  his  doubts  all  cleared.  "I  don't  know  about  the  grass- 
hoppers; they  are  a  pretty  clever  kind  of  inse(5l.  But  if  it  was  a 
million  of  mosquitoes,  I  think  I  should  let  them  die."  There  are 
-older  heads  than  his  that  need  the  same  hint. 


32 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


'•Awake,  My  Soul,  to  Joyful  Lays." 

6o»  The  writer  of  this  hymn,  Samuel  ^Medley,  was  a  mid- 
shipman in  the  na^w  in  his  3'outh,  and  was  severeh'  wounded  in 
the  sea  fight  off  Cape  Lagos.  He  was  taken  to  the  house  of  his 
grandfather,  a  deeply  pious  man,  who  did  all  that  was  in  his  powef 
to  induce  his  grandson  to  lead  a  better  life.  One  Sunday-  evening 
he  remained  with  him  at  home,  and  read  to  him,  in  the  hope  of 
reaching  his  heart,  a  sermon  b}'  Dr.  Watts,  on  Is.  42:  6,  7.  To 
the  wounded  sailor  it  was  a  precise  description  of  his  case,  and  it 
resulted  in  opening  his  blinded  e^-es,  and  not  long  afteru'ard  he 
was  hopefully  converted. 


"Just  as  I  A:m,  without  Oxe  Plea." 

61.  A  little  street  waif  once  came  to  a  Xew  York  City  mis" 
sionars'  and  held  up  a  torn  and  dirt}'  piece  of  paper,  on  which 
this  hj'mn  was  printed.  "Please,  sir,"  said  he,  " father  sent  me 
to  get  a  clean  paper  like  that. ' '  The  missionary  learned  that  the 
child's  sister  had  loved  to  sing  it,  and  that  this  copy  had  been 
found  in  her  pocket  after  her  death.  The  father  wanted  now  to 
obtain  a  clean  set  of  the  verses,  that  the}'  might  be  framed. 


62.  An  artist  who  wished  to  paint  a  picture  of  the  prodigal 
son,  saw  a  beggar  in  filth  and  rags  that  struck  him  as  a  suggestive 
model,  and  engaged  him  to  come  to  his  studio  at  a  certain  hour. 
The  beggar  begged  the  use  of  some  more  respectable  clothing,  and 
when  he  presented  himself  at  the  studio,  the  artist  said:  "I  have 
now  no  use  for  a'ou.  I  wanted  3'ou  as  you  were  in  3-our  wretched- 
ness and  miser}',  in  3'our  rags  and  filth."  And  it  was  onl\'  when 
the  beggar  returned  m  his  own  clothes,  as  the  artist  had  first  seen 
him,  that  his  ser\'ices  were  emplo3'ed. 


"Do  YOU  WoxDER  THAT  I  LovE  Hm ? " 

63.  The  author  of  this  hymn  had  made  arrangements  to  at- 
tend an  elocutionarv'  entertainment  one  evening,  but  in  the  after- 
noon of  that  da}'  he  was  prostrated  by  a  severe  attack  of  sick 
headache,  and  when  the  hour  arrived  for  the  readings  he  was  un- 
able to  go.  Sending  his  wife  with  some  friends,  he  remained  at 
home  alone.  Hardly  had  they  departed,  when  the  pain  ceased,  and 
a  sweet  calm  came  over  body  and  soul  that  was  almost  ecstatic. 
Wave  after  wave  of  thrilling'  delight  passed  over  his  soul,  and  in. 


HYMN  ANECDOTKS. 


3^ 


the  midst  of  this  experience  these  verses  sang  themselves  in  his 
heart;  and  when  his  wife  returned,  instead  of  finding-  him  asleep 
or  still  in  great  pain,  as  she  expecfted,  he  was  radiant  with  glad- 
ness, and  this  hymn  lay  written  upon  the  table.  The  memory  of 
that  hour  is  yet  fragrant  and  refreshing. 


"Comb,  Thou  Fount  of  Every  Bekssing." 

64.  It  is  related  of  the  author  of  this  hymn,  Rev.  Robert 
Robinson,  that  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  somewhat  friv- 
olous in  his  condu(5l,  and  unspiritual  in  hie  ideas,  and  that,  trav- 
eling in  a  stage-coach,  he  encountered  a  lady  who  compelled  him 
to  admit  his  acquaintance  with  religion.  Do  what  he  would,  he 
could  not  divert  her  from  the  topic.  He  became  much  agitated, 
but  not  being  dressed  in  a  conventionally  clerical  costume,  she 
did  not  suspe(5l  that  he  was  a  minister.  Finally,  she  quoted  to 
him  this,  his  own  hymn,  and  spoke  of  the  blessings  that  it  had 
brought  to  her  heart.  Agitated  beyond  the  power  to  control  his 
emotion,  Robinson  broke  out,  "Madam,  I  am  the  poor,  unhappy 
man  w^ho  composed  that  hymn,  many  years  ago,  and  I  would  give 
a  thousand  worlds,  if  I  had  them,  to  enjoy  the  feelings  I  had 
then." 


"Not  AlI/  the  Blood  oe  Beasts." 

65,  Not  long  since  a  young  Jewess  was  passing  the  door  of  a 
chapel  in  England.  She  was  attracted  by  the  sound  of  music, 
and  went  into  the  porch  to  listen.  The  minister  gave  out  the 
lines, — 

"Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts. 
On  Jewish  altars  slain. 
Can  give  the  guilty  conscience  peace. 
Or  wash  away  the  stain. ' ' 

She  was  surprised  to  hear  mention  made  of  *  'Jewish  altars  "  in  a 
Christian  place  of  worship,  and  waited  until  the  next  lines  of  the 
hymn  were  read  out, — 

"But  Christ,  the  heavenly  I^amb, 
Takes  all  our  sins  away : 
A  sacrifice  of  nobler  name. 
And  richer  blood  than  they." 

She  was  more  than  ever  startled  and  interested,  for  she  felt  that 
there  was  something  here  such  as  she  had  been  conscious  that 
she  needed,  but  had  never  known;  and  so  she  continued  to  listen 
3 


34 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


while  the  minister  read  and  the  congregation  sang  the  rest  of  the 
hymn. 

She  returned  home.  But  the  truth  had  found  its  way  into  her 
heart  and  conscience :  she  was  evidently  taught  of  God.  It  soon 
became  known  among  her  friends  that  she  had  embraced  the  faith 
sof  Christ. 


**The  Door  is  Shut." 

66.    The  Rev.  George  Whitefield  was  apt,  in  the  pulpit, — and 

had  great  facility  in  doing  it,— to  imagine  what  persons  would 
think  upon  the  passage  of  Scripture  he  selecfted  for  meditation ; 
and  sometimes  this  was  so  striking  as  to  convey  to  his  hearers 
an  impression  of  almost  supernatural  knowledge.  A  respectable 
lady  who  heard  him,  in  Scotland,  preach  upon  the  words,  "And 
the  door  was  shut!"  being  placed  near  two  dashing  young  men, 
but  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  pulpit,  witnessed  their 
mirth;  and  overheard  one  say  in  a  low  tone  to  the  other,  "Well, 
what  if  the  door  de  shut;  another  will  open."  Thus  they  turned 
off  the  solemnity  of  the  text.  Mr.  Whitefield  had  not  proceeded 
far,  when  he  said:  "It  is  possible  there  may  be  some  careless, 
trifling  person  here  to-day,  who  may  ward  off  the  force  of  this 
impressive  subje(5l  by  lightly  thinking,  'What  matter  if  the  door 
be  shut;  another  will  open.'"  The  two  young  men  were  para- 
lyzed, and  looked  at  each  other.  Mr.  Whitefield  proceeded :  ' '  Yes, 
another  door  will  open.  And  I  will  tell  you  what  door  it  will  be: 
it  will  be  the  door  of  the  bottomless  pit!  the  door  of  hell! — the 
door  which  conceals  from  the  eyes  of  angels  the  horrors  of  dam- 
nation ! ' ' 


"The  ChiIvD  oe  a  King." 

67.    The  late  Duke  of  H         had  two  sons.    The  eldest  fell 

into  consumption  when  a  boy,  which  ended  in  his  death.  Two 
ministers  went  to  see  him  at  the  family  seat,  near  Glasgow,  where 
he  lay.  After  prayer,  the  youth  took  his  Bible  from  under  his 
pillow,  and  turned  to  II.  Tim.  4:  7:  "I  have  fought  a  good  fight, 
I  have  finished  m}^  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith :  henceforth  there 
is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness";  and  added,  "This, 
sirs,  is  all  my  comfort."  When  his  death  approached,  he  called 
his  younger  brother  to  his  bed,  and  spoke  to  him  with  great  af- 
fe(5lion.  He  ended  with  these  remarkable  words:  "And  now, 
Douglas,  in  a  little  time  you  will  be  a  duke,  but  /  shall  be  a 
king." 


HYMN  ANKCDOTKS. 


35 


68.  A  poor  but  very  pious  woman  once  called  on  two  rich 
young  ladies  who  loved  the  lyord.  Without  regarding-  her  mean 
appearance,  they  took  her  into  their  fine  drawing-room  and  sat 
down  to  converse  with  her  on  religious  subjects.  While  thus 
engaged,  their  brother,  a  gay,  thoughtless  youth,  came  in  and 
looked  astonished  at  their  unusual  guest.  One  of  them  rose  up 
with  great  dignity  and  said:  "Brother,  don't  be  astonished;  this 
is  a  king's  daughter,  only  she  has  not  got  her  fine  clothes  on." 


69.  'Rev.  Ernst  Gebhardt,  a  Methodist  missionary  in  Germany, 
translated  this  hymn  into  the  German,  and  it  became  very  popu- 
lar. One  Sunday,  as  the  children  had  been  singing  it  with  great 
delight,  the  teacher  suddenly  asked,  ' '  How  many  of  you  feel  that 
you  are  '  Children  of  the  King  ? '  "  A  few  hands  went  up.  Then 
she  inquired,  "How  many  of  you  want  to  be  'Children  of  the 
King '  ?"  Among  the  large  number  of  hands  that  now  went  up, 
was  that  of  a  bright  little  girl  who  attra(5led  notice  by  her  intense 
earnestness.  A  few  weeks  later  she  was  attacked  by  diphtheria, 
and  was  soon  unable  to  speak.  Making  signs  for  her  slate,  it  was 
iDrought  to  her,  and  with  her  weak,  trembling  fingers  she  slowly 
and  painfully  wrote,  "I'm  the  child  of  a  King,  I'm  the  child  of 
a  King ;  with  Jesus  my  Savior — ' '  She  could  write  no  more,  and 
in  a  few  moments  expired,  to  don  her  royal  robes,  and  sit  upon 
her  throne. 


"The:re:'IvI.  be;  no  Sorrow  There." 

70.  A  man  who  was  going  to  the  station  to  take  the  cars, 
heard  a  little  Irish  boy,  who  was  sitting  on  the  doorstep,  sing- 
ing,— 

''There'll  be  no  sorrow  there, 
There'll  be  no  sorrow  there  ;" 

"Where,"  asked  he,  for  his  mind  was  impressed  by  the  words; 
where  is  there  no  sorrow  ? ' '    The  boy  answered, — 

"  In  heaven  above, 
Where  all  is  love, 
There'll  be  no  sorrow  there." 

The  man  hastened  on  to  take  his  seat  in  the  cars ;  but  he  could 
not  forget  the  simple  words  of  the  hymn.  A  world  where  there 
is  no  sorrow !  ^  This  was  the  great  idea  which  filled  his  mind.  He 
had  been  an  infidel,  but  now  he  had  resolved  to  be  a  Christian; 
and  he  did  become  one,  and  began  to  live  a  new  life,  a  life  of 
preparation  for  that  heavenly  land  where  there  is  no  sorrow. 


86 


THB  GosPEiv  worke;r's  treasury. 


"Shali.  we  Gather  at  the  River?" 

71.  Written  in  July,  1864.  This  hymn  was  the  outflow  of  a 
contemplative  spirit.  The  author's  mind  passed  beyond  the  river 
of  death  to  the  river  of  life.  The  imagery  of  the  Apocal3^pse  be- 
came vivid  to  him.  The  words  almost  formed  themselves  without 
effort.  The  music  took  form  with  the  words.  In  the  following- 
spring,  forty  thousand  children  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  sang  it 
at  the  May  Festival.  Then  it  passed  around  the  world.  It  has 
been  sung  in  the  festal  throng  and  at  the  death-bed.    One  day 

I^r.  ly  •  was  on  his  way  from  his  church  to  his  home,  when  a 

stranger  came  up  to  him  and  said :  "  I  want  to  tell  you  how  m.uch 
I  am  indebted  to  you.  My  little  daughter  died  a  month  ago,  and 
the  last  request  she  made  was  that  we  should  sing,  *  Shall  we 
gather  at  the  river " ' 


72.  A  prominent  business  man  thus  expressed  himself  to  a 
Christian  minister:  *'I  am  interested  in  church  matters,  and  am 
always  glad  to  see  ministers  when  they  call ;  but  I  have  thought 
the  subjedt  over  long  and  carefully,  and  have  come  to  the  deliber- 
ate decivSion  that  I  have  no  need  of  Jesus."  A  single  week  had 
not  passed  before  that  man  was  taken  sick.  His  disease  was  ac- 
companied with  such  inflammation  of  the  throat  as  forbade  his 
speaking  at  all.  This  enforced  silence  continued  until  the  hour 
of  death,  when  he  was  enabled  to  utter  this  one  despairing  whis^ 
per :  ' '  Who  shall  carry  me  over  the  river  ? ' ' 

"Shall  we  gather  at  the  river, 

Where  bright  angel  feet  have  trod, 
With  its  crystal  tide  forever 

Flowing  "by  the  throne  of  God?" 


"What  a  Friend  we  have  in  Jesus." 

73.  A  gentleman  in  the  mining  regions  of  lyake  Superior, 
deeply  impressed  on  the  subje(5l  of  his  personal  salvation,  de- 
termined to  fight  off  his  convi(5tions.  He  kept  away  from  relig- 
ious meetings,  and  avoided  religious  conversation.  Stepping  into 
an  office  where  a  telephone  was  in  use,  he  requested  permission  to 
witness  its  operation.  Putting  his  ear  to  the  mystic  instrument, 
he  listened,  and  there  came  through  the  transmitter,  sounding 
with  strange  beauty  and  power,  the  words  sung  by  four  little 
children, — 

"What  a  friend  we  have  in  Jesus, 
All  our  sins  and  griefs  to  bear." 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


37 


The  appeal  went  home  to  his  heart.  He  could  hold  out  no 
longer ;  and  there  and  then  determined  to  begin  the  Christian  life. 


"Thou  Thinkest,  IvOrd,  oe  Me." 

74,  This  hymn  wrote  itself  one  Sunday  morning,  but  was 
thrown  aside  by  the  author  as  unworthy  of  preserv'^ation.  Months 
afterward  it  was  found  in  a  drawer  of  odds  and  ends,  where  it  was 
least  likely  to  be  found,  and  succeeded  in  making  a  better  im- 
pression. It  was  decided  to  give  it  a  chance,  and  hence  it  was 
published  soon  afterward.  It  has  already  approved  itself  to  the 
public,  and  has  been  a  great  comfort  to  invalids  and  those  under 
sore  affliction. 


75.  An  aged  Christian,  lying  on  his  death-bed  in  a  state  of 
extreme  weakness,  and  often  of  entire  unconsciousness  of  all 
around  him,  was  asked  the  cause  of  his  perfe(5t  peace.  He "  re- 
plied: "When  I  am  able  to  think,  I  think  of  Jesus;  and  when  I 
am  unable  to  think  of  him,  I  know  he  is  thinking  of  me." 


"Jesus  oe  Nazareth  Passeth  By." 

76.  During  a  revival  held  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond  in  lyock- 
port,  New  York,  a  gambler  came  into  a  morning  meeting  while 
they  were  singing  this  hymn ;  and  at  the  close  of  it,  though  it 
was  the  first  meeting  he  had  attended,  he  arose,  and,  with  tears 
streaming  down  his  cheeks,  begged  the  Christians  to  pray  for 
him.  Earnest  prayer  at  once  ascended  in  his  behalf,  and  it  was 
answered.  A  few  nights  after,  in  relating  his  experience  before  a 
large  assembly,  he  referred  to  this  hymn  as  having  been  the 
means  of  awakening  him,  and  added,  "As  I  went  out  of  the 
church  that  day,  and  over  the  canal,  I  threw  the  'Devil's  Testa- 
ment,' with  its  fifty-two  leaves,  into  it."  He  never  played  a  card 
afterward,  but  lived  a  consistent  Christian  life,  and  has  since  died 
a  happy  death. 


"Jesus  is  Mine." 

77.  The  family  of  Rev.  J.  Denham  Smith,  the  English  evan- 
gelist, were  one  day  singing  this  hymn,  when  his  little  boy  of 
four  years  was  observed,  contrary  to  his  usual  custom,  to  be  tak- 


38 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


ing  no  part.  Nothing  was  said,  but  after  the  singing  was  over 
he  went  to  his  mamma  and  said  to  her,  ' '  I  wish  you  would  not 
sing  that  hymn  an}^  more;  I  can't  sing  it,  for  Jesus  is  not  yet 
mine. ' '  The  next  morning  he  did  not  come  down  to  breakfast  as 
usual,  and  his  father  went  up  stairs  to  see  what  detained  him. 
He  found  him  on  his  knees  before  the  bed.  When  the  door  opened, 
he  arose,  and  asked  in  great  seriousness,  "Papa,  when  is  the  next 
children's  meeting  ?"  Being  told  that  it  would  be  on  the  follow- 
ing Friday,  he  said,  ' '  Won't  you  ask  them  to  pray  for  me,  that  the 
Holy  Ghost  may  go  up  and  down  in  m3^  heart,  so  that  I  can  sing 
with  the  rest,  'Now  I  have  found  a  friend,  JCvSus  is  mine'  ?"  At 
the  next  children's  meeting  W^illie  was  present,  drinking  in  every 
word.  At  the  close,  he  pressed  his  way  to  his  father's  side,  and 
putting  his  hand  in  his,  he  said,  "Now,  dear  papa,  I  can  sing 
with  the  rest,  'Jesus  is  mine.'"  The  little  boy  remained  a  stead- 
fast and  earnest  Christian. 


"Are  You  Ready?" 

78.  Rev.  Mr.  Barron,  of  Ohio,  relates  the  following  incident 
concerning  this  hymn.  He  had  engaged  an  evangelist  to  come 
and  hold  a  revival  ser\^ice  for  him,  but  at  the  end  of  ten  days  there 
was  seemingly  no  progress  made  whatever.  On  the  eleventh 
evening,  the  evangelist  preached  again,  but  his  sermon  seemed 
to  produce  no  effed:.  The  congregation  was  as  indifferent  as  at 
the  beginning  of  the  meeting.  At  the  close  of  the  discourse,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Barron,  both  of  whom  are  sweet  gospel  singers,  sang 
the  above  hymn  with  considerable  earnestness.  Before  they  had 
sung  all  the  stanzas,  an  evident  hush  had  fallen  upon  the  congre- 
gation, and  deep  solemnity  reigned.  When  all  the  stanzas  had 
been  sung,  they  began  again  at  the  first,  and  sang  it  through 
again  amid  the  deepening  feeling  of  the  people.  Over  and  over 
again  the  solemn  appeal  of  the  refrain  rang  out,  ' '  Are  you  ready  ? ' ' 
and  broke  sinners'  hearts,  and  before  they  had  finished  singing 
it  the  third  time,  a  score  of  penitents  were  at  the  altar.  This  was 
the  beginning  of  a  mighty  revival  in  that  conimunity. 


"Where  is  My  Boy,  To-Night?" 

79.  This  song  was  the  result  of  a  conversation  with  a  Chris- 
tian brother  concerning  the  wasting  of  young  men's  lives.  Dr. 

L  went  home  and  put  the  pi(5lure  into  verse.    Many  a  mother's 

face  has  been  wet  as  she  listened  to  this  song.    It  has  been  of 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


great  use  in  temperance  meetings.  Mr.  Sankey  sings  it  with,  pa- 
thetic effedl. 

When  Mr.  Moody  was  holding  meetings  in  Baltimore,  prayer 
was  frequently  asked  and  offered  for  a  wayward  son.  A  year  af- 
terward, in  Cleveland,  Mr.  Moody  read  a  letter  from  that_  son's 
mother,  giving  an  account  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  from  thirst.  But  in  a  rock-cleft  near  his 
body,  an  unfinished  letter  to  his  mother  was  found,  describing  his 
conversion  by  means  of  a  hymn  which  she  had  sent  him.  It  was 
the  hymn  often  sung  by  Mr.  Sankey, — 

"Where  is  my  wandering  boy  to-night?" 

What  a  comfort  to  that  mother,  when  the  gladness  of  earthly 
reunion  with  her  son  was  denied  her,  to  have  Christ's  own  assur- 
ance that  heaven  rejoiced  over  him,  and  to  know  that  she  would 
meet  him  there ! 


''lyET  THE  lyOWER  lylGHTS  BE  BURNING." 

80.  This  song  was  suggested  to  the  author,  Mr.  Bliss,  by  an 
anecdote  told  by  Mr.  Moody.  There  are  two  light-houses  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio, — one  on  the  bluff,  called  the  upper  lights,  and 
one  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  called  the  lower  lights.  One  wild, 
stormy  night,  a  steamer  was  trying  to  make  her  way  into  the 
harbor.  The  officers  were  anxiously  looking  for  the  lights.  By 
and  by  the  pilot  said,  "Do  you  see  the  lower  lights  ? "  "No," 
said  the  captain;  "I  fear  we  have  passed  them."  "Ah,  there  are 
the  upper  lights,"  said  the  pilot;  "we  have  passed  the  lower 
lights,  and  have  lost  our  chance  of  getting  into  the  harbor." 
They  looked  back,  and  saw  the  dim  outline  of  the  lower  light- 
house against  the  sky.  The  lights  had  gone  out.  They  could  not 
turn  around,  as  the  ship  would  not  answer  to  her  helm.  Vainly 
they  tried  to  make  the  harbor,  and  finally  they  went  crash  against 
the  rocks,  and  sank  to  the  bottom.  Very  few  escaped;  the  great 
majority  found  a  watery  grave,  because  the  lower  lights  had  gone 
out. 


8l»  The  keeper  of  the  light-house  at  Calais  was  boasting  of 
the  brightness  of  his  lantern,  which  can  be  seen  ten  leagues  at 
sea.  A  visitor  said  to  him,  ' '  What  if  one  of  the  lights  should 
chance  to  go  out  ? "  "  Never !  impossible ! "  he  cried,  horrified  at 
the  thought.  "Sir,"  said  he,  pointing  to  the  ocean,  "yonder, 
where  nothing  can  be  seen,  there  are  ships  going  by  to  all  parts  of 
the  world.    If  to-night  one  of  my  burners  went  out,  within  six 


40 


the;  GosPKiy  worker's  treasury. 


months  would  come  a  letter,  perhaps  from  India,  perhaps  from 
America,  perhaps  from  some  place  I  never  heard  of,  saj-ing,  Such 
a  night,  at  such  an  hour,  the  light  of  Calais  burned  dim,  the 
watchman  negle(5ted  his  post,  and  vessels  were  in  danger !  Ah, 
sir,  sometimes  in  the  dark  nights,  in  stormy  weather,  I  look  out 
to  sea,  and  feel  as  if  the  eyes  of  the  whole  world  were  looking  at 
my  light.    Go  out  ?  burn  dim  ?  never ! ' ' 


"Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee/* 

82.  A  little  drummer  boy  was  found  after  the  battle  of  Fort. 
Donelson,  by  one  who  visited  the  field.  The  poor  lad  had  lost 
an  arm,  which  had  been  carried  away  by  a  cannon-ball,  and  his 
young  life  was  fast  ebbing  away,  but  even  as  he  died  he  was 
heard  joyfully  singing, — 

"  Still  all  my  song-  shall  be, 
Nearer,  my  God,  to  thee, 
Nearer  to  thee." 


"'Aemost  Persuaded'  Now^  to  Believe." 

83.  During  a  meeting  held  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Young,  a  young  man 
was  deeply  convi(5led,  and  said  to  the  pastor :  "I  intend  to  become 
a  Christian,  but  not  just  now.  Don't  give  yourself  any  trouble 
about  me;  I'll  attend  to  it  in  good  time."  He  was  vainly  urged 
to  attend  to  the  matter  at  once ;  almost,  he  was  not  after  all  wholly 
persuaded.  A  few  weeks  afterward  he  was  injured  in  a  saw-mill, 
and  lay  dying.  Mr.  Young  was  called  in  and  found  him  in  de- 
spair, "lycave  me  alone,"  he  said.  "At  your  meeting  I  was 
almost  persuaded  to  be  a  Christian,  but  I  would  not  yield,  and 
now  it  is  too  late.  Oh,  get  my  wife,  my  sisters,  and  my  brothers, 
here  (they  were  standing  about  his  bed),  to  seek  God,  and  do  it 
now,  and  not  wait  an  hour.  But  leave  me  alone,  for  I  am  lost. ' ' 
He  thus  lamented  and  exhorted  others  to  seek  salvation  for  an 
hour,  and  then  died  with  these  words  on  his  lips,  "I'm  lost,  I'm 
lost!  just  because  I  would  not  yield  when  I  was  almost  per- 
suaded. ' ' 


84.  Rev.  D.  C.  Talbot  writes  as  follows:  "On  one  occasion 
while  I  was  holding  a  revival  service,  a  young  man  about  twenty 
years  of  age  was  a  faithful  attendant,  and  while  many  souls  were 


HYMN  ANE:CD0TE:S. 


41 


converted,  lie  was  utterly  given  to  procrastination.  I  urged  upon 
him  the  importance  of  immediate  adlion,  but  in  vain.  The  meet- 
ing closed,  and  with  it  the  door  of  mercy  seemed  to  close  to  this 
young  man.  He  was  then  taken  exceedingly  ill,  and  his  sick- 
ness was  'unto  death.'  He  remained  haughty  until  he  began  to 
enter  the  valley  and  saw  for  a  certainty  that  there  was  an  eternity, 
that  he  must  die,  and  was  unprepared.  He  immediately  sent  for 
me  to  pray  for  him.  Oh,  such  dark  distress !  Without  a  ray  of 
light  or  a  spark  of  hope  he  passed  into  the  unknown,  crying  for 
prayers,  but  making  no  attempt  to  pray  himself." 


"I'm  GivAd  SaivVation's  Free." 

85.  At  a  "bush-meeting,"  held  by  Rev.  B.  F.  Noon,  a  middle- 
aged  man  was  observed  standing  near  the  altar,  deeply  interested 
and  serious.  Suddenl3^  he  inquired  of  a  Christian  standing  near 
him,  "Is  this  thing  free?"  When  he  was  assured  that  it  was, 
he  remarked,  "Then  I  will  pitch  in  !  "  and  down  he  went  at  the 
altar,  pleading  earnestly  for  mercy.  He  was  soon  at  peace,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  faithful  Christians  in  the  community,  and 
a  class-leader  in  the  church. 


"A  lyONG  Time  I  Wandered  in  Darkness." 

86.  The  organist  and  leader  of  the  singing  in  a  meeting  held 
by  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  was  a  young  lady  of  unexceptionable  char- 
adler,  but  not  a  Christian.  She  was  a  good  player  and  singer, 
able  to  render  the  ' '  Gospel  Hymns, ' '  which  were  then  new,  at  sight. 
One  evening  Mr.  Adams  announced  the  above  h^'mn  of  Mr.  Bliss' . 
As  no  one  else  knew  the  song,  the  young  lady  was  obliged  to  sing 
it  as  a  solo.  The  singing  of  the  first  stanza,  with  its  confession  of 
sin,  powerfully  convidted  her ;  the  second  showed  her  her  need  of 
Christ.  During  the  singing  of  the  third,  the  tears  streamed  down 
her  face,  and  as  she  sang  the  chorus,  "I  know  he  is  mine,"  all 
felt  that  it  was  a  personal  confession.  At  the  close  of  the  song, 
she  rose  and  announced  that  during  its  singing  she  had  been  con- 
verted. 


"Ring  the  BE1.1.S  OE  Heaven." 

87.  A  hunter  in  the  wilds  of  Michigan  one  day  found  an  in- 
sane man  who  had  escaped  from  his  nurse,  and  who  was  perish- 
ing with  cold  and  hunger.    By  careful  questioning  the  hunter 


42  THE  GOSPEL  worker's  treasury. 

found  that  his  home  was  in  a  village  over  a  hundred  miles  away. 
After  a  week's  travel  he  reached  the  village  where  he  supposed 
the  unfortunate  man  resided.  He  found  the  whole  community 
under  deep  excitement,  and  more  than  a  hundred  men  were  scat- 
tered in  the  woods  and  on  the  mountains  seeking  for  his  crazy 
companion,  for  they  had  learned  that  he  had  wandered  into  the 
woods.  It  had  been  agreed  upon  that  if  he  was  found,  the  bells 
should  be  immediately  rung  and  guns  fired ;  and  as  soon  as  he 
landed,  a  shout  was  raised,  his  friends  rushed  to  him,  the  bells 
broke  out  in  loud  notes,  and  guns  were  fired,  and  their  reports 
echoed  again  and  again  in  forest  and  on  mountain,  till  every 
seeker  knew  that  the  lost  one  was  found.  How  many  times  the 
hunter  had  to  tell  the  story  over !  The  man  was  of  the  first  and 
best  families,  and  they  hoped  his  insanity  would  be  but  temporary, 
as  it  afterward  proved  to  be.  How  they  feasted  the  hunter,  and, 
when  he  went  away,  loaded  his  canoe  with  provisions  and  clothing, 
and  everything  for  his  comfort !  It  was  a  time  and  place  of  won- 
derful joy. 


"Stand  Up,  Stand  Up,  for  Jesus." 

88.  One  cannot  forget  here  the  dying  words  of  the  younger 
Tyng,  "'Stand  up  for  Jesus,'' — words  which,  in  exhortation  and 
sermon  and  song  and  illuminated  motto,  have  since  given  new 
strength  to  many  a  feeble  disciple. 


''Are  You  Ready  eor  the  Bridegroom?" 

89.  Whilst  spending  a  week,  sa3^s  a  correspondent,  in  the 
society  of  a  great  number  of  faithful  pastors  from  the  Canton  of 
Vaud,  one  of  them,  at  a  public  meeting,  related  to  us  the  recent 
conversion  of  a  lady  of  his  acquaintance.  She  was  one  of  those 
who  lived  only  for  this  world ;  the  thought  of  her  sins  had  never 
caused  her  uneasiness ;  she  was  careful  and  troubled  about  many 
things,  but  negledled  the  one  thing  needful. 

One  night,  while  alone  in  her  room,  she  saw  the  lamp  which 
lighted  it  suddenly  go  out.  Although  she  was  alone,  she  said 
aloud  (thinking  only  of  the  accident  which  left  her  in  the  dark), 
' '  There  Is  no  oil  in  the  lamp ! ' '  The  words  thus  spoken  echoed 
m  the  room  and  -sounded  in  her  ears,  but  with  a  new  sense.  She 
recalled  the  parable  of  the  Five  Foolish  Virgins,  who  had  no  oil, 
and  whose  lamps  had  gone  out  at  the  coming  of  the  bridegroom ; 
and  from  that  moment,  day  and  night,  that  word  of  God  remained 
in  her  soul  as  an  arrow  remains  in  the  side  of  a  stag  who  flies 


HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


43 


away  from  tlie  hunter.  It  recurred  to  her  constantly:  **No,  I 
have  no  oil  in  my  lamp.  My  God !  what  will  become  of  me  ?  I 
have  not  the  grace  of  God  in  my  heart ! ' ' 


Trusting  Jesus,  That  is  A1.1.." 

90.  There  was  once  a  good  woman  who  was  well  known 
among  her  circle  for  her  simple  faith,  and  her  great  calmness  in 
the  midst  of  many  trials.  Another  woman,  living  at  a  distance, 
hearing  of  her,  said,  "I  must  go  and  see  that  w^oman,  and  learn 
the  secret  of  her  strong,  happy  life,"  She  went,  and  accosting 
the  woman,  said,  "Are  you  the  woman  with  the  great  faith?" 
*'No,"  replied  she,  "lam  not  the  woman  with  the  great  faith; 
but  I  am  the  woman  with  a  little  faith  in  the  great  God. ' ' 


"Sitting  at  the  Feet  oe  Jesus." 

91,  "He won't  stand  long,"  said  the  neighbors,  when  "little 
Abe,"  a  rough,  drinking  lad,  was  converted,  and  they  could  not 
but  see  the  great  change  that  had  come  over  him ;  v/hat  a  bright 
and  happy  and  devoted  Christian  he  was,  and  how  earnestly  he 
preached  Jesus  to  his  friends.    "He  won't  stand  long,"  they  said. 

"Won't  I  stand?"  said  Abe.  "Then  I'll  fall,  but  it  shall  be 
at  the  feet  of  Jesus." 


"  O,  How  I  Love  Jesus." 

92.  A  religion  that  has  love  largely  in  it  needs  no  cringing 
ceremonies. 

"My  little  girl,"  says  Dr.  Talmage,  "one  day  said  to  her 
mother:  'Mamma,  sivSter  says  vshe  is  afraid  of  God.  /  am  not 
afraid  of  God.  Why,  mamma,  if  I  should  see  God  right  here,  I 
wouldn't  be  afraid.  I'd  just  go  right  up  to  him,  and  put  my  arms 
rou7id  his  neck  and  kiss  him.''''' 

The  little  girl  defined  better  than  she  knew.  She  told  the 
difference  between  Christianity  and  every  other  religion  in  the 
world. 


"Come,  Every  Soul  by  Sin  Oppressed." 

93,  Examples  are  not  wanting — outside  the  15th  of  Luke — 
to  prove  how  parental  love  always  anticipates  filial  penitence. 


44 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


One  touching  illustration  is  given  in  the  stor}^  a  gentleman  re- 
lates of  the  disappearance  and  return  of  his  brother,  a  widow's 
eldest  son.  He  ran  awa}^  when  he  had  just  grown  old  enough  to 
be  his  mother's  prop  and  sta\-. 

The  poor  woman,  left  with  several  little  ones,  used  to  pray  and 
sob  over  his  loss,  and  often  spoke  of  him  in  her  famih^,  to  keep 
his  memory  alive. 

Fourteen  years  wore  away,  and  one  summer  day  a  tall,  dark- 
bearded  stranger  walked  up  to  the  widow's  cottage,  while  she  sat 
in  her  little  parlor,  and  leaned  his  arms  on  the  sill  of  the  open 
window,  and  looked  at  her.  She  was  half  alarmed  at  first,  but 
the  tears  began  to  roll  down  his  cheeks,  and  then  she  knew  him. 

"O,  Robert,  Robert!"  she  cried  out,  and  sprang  from  her  chair 
to  bring  him  in. 

But  he  shook  his  head,  and  said  to  her,  "  Mother,  I  shall  never 
come  in  till  I  hear  you  say  you  forgive  me. ' ' 

"Robert!  why,  dear,  I've  forgiven  you  long  ago,"  said  the 
happy  mother.  "There's  nothing  to  forgive  now,  except  that 
you  staid  away  so  long. ' ' 


"Jesus  Paid  it  Auu." 

Q4,  Thirty  small  boj'S  were  arrested  in  Dallas,  Texas,  not 
long  ago,  for  giving  a  "minstrel  performance"  without  a  license, 
the  plaintiff  being  the  owner  of  an  old  building  which  they  had 
used  without  permission.  They  were  tried  before  the  mayor, 
who  said:  "I  find  the  prisoners  guilty,  and  fine  them  one  dollar 
each.    The  alternative  is  one  da^'  in  jail." 

The  consternation  among  the  little  offenders  was  great — till 
his  Honor  added :  ' '  But  I  was  a  bo}^  once  m^-self,  and  once  I  re- 
member I  broke  the  laws  in  ver}-  much  the  same  way.  /  will  pay 
the  prisoners'  fines. ' ' 

Does  not  this  remind  us  of  Him — Judge,  Advocate,  Priest,  and 
Sacrifice,  all  in  one — who  is  ever  "touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities"  ? 


"Down  at  the  Cross  where  my  Savior." 

Q5,  In  a  lonel^^  cottage  on  a  moor  in  England,  far  away  from 
a  church,  a  minister,  or  friends,  a  poor  cowherd  la}^  dj^ng — alone, 
but  for  one  granddaughter,  the  sunshine  and  delight  of  his  old 
age.  As  his  d\'ing  hour  drew  near,  he  bade  the  child  fetch  the 
old  family  Bible,  and  read  to  him  out  of  its  sacred  pages.  Again 
and  again  she  read,  till  one  da}'  she  came  to  that  blessed  verse, 
* '  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin. ' ' 


HYMN  ANE:CD0TES. 


45 


He  stopped  her.    ' '  Is  there  such,  a  verse  as  that  there  ? ' ' 

"Yes,  grandfather." 

' '  Are  you  sure  it' s  true  ? ' ' 

' '  Yes,  grarxdfather. ' ' 

"Then,  if  that  is  true,  there's  hope  for  me!  Bring  me  the  Book 
and  put  my  finger  on  the  verse. ' ' 

She  put  his  withered  finger  on  the  verse. 

"Tell  my  friends  I  die  in  the  faith  of  that  verse." 


"I  Gave:  my  I^ife  for  Thkb." 

96.  Three  little  children  wandered  from  home  one  afternoon. 
Evening  found  them  playing  by  the  seashore.  It  grew  suddenly 
cold  and  dark,  and  they  could  not  return.  In  the  morning  they 
were  found,  the  two  youngest  sleeping  warm  and  safe  under  cov- 
erings of  garments  and  sea-weeds,  and  little  Mary,  the  eldest, 
Ij' ing  cold  and  dead,  with  her  arms  full  of  weeds.  She  had  taken 
off  her  own  outer  garments  and  spread  them  over  the  little  ones, 
and  then  carried  grass  and  sea-weed  to  pile  upon  them,  until  she 
had  died  in  her  loving  devotion. 


Q7.  A  Moravian  missionary  to  the  West  Indies  fotind  that  he 
could  get  no  access  to  the  colored  people,  whom  he  wished  to 
reach,  because  they  were  kept  at  work  all  day,  and  at  night  they 
were  too  weary  and  exhaUvSted  to  listen  to  his  words.  After  all 
other  plans  failed,  he  sold  himself  as  a  slave,  was  driven  with  the 
rest  to  the  fields,  where,  at  odd  moments,  he  had  opportunities  to 
talk  to  his  work-fellows,  and  led  many  to  Christ. 


"Are  You  Washed  in  the  B1.00D?" 

98.  On  a  ledge  of  the  roof  of  the  ancient  and  beautiful  chapel 
of  the  Werden  an  der  Ruhr,  in  Germany,  stands  a  carved  stone 
lamb.  A  clergyman  relates  its  history,  as  he  heard  it  when  he 
visited  the  spot  in  1865. 

One  day,  many  years  ago,  a  workman,  while  making  some  re- 
pairs on  the  roof,  slipped  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Some  soft  sub- 
stance received  the  weight  of  his  body  below,  and  broke  his  fall. 
It  was  a  poor  little  lamb  that  had  wandered  near  the  church  and 
was  cropping  the  scanty  grass.  This  circumstance  saved  his  life, 
for  he  escaped  with  the  mere  fright,  and  with  not  so  much  as  a 
finger  broken.    But  the  poor  lamb  was  killed  by  his  heavy  fall 


46 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


Upon  it.  So,  out  of  pure  gratitude,  the  man  had  the  stone  lamb 
carved  and  set  up  for  a  lasting  memento  of  his  escape  from  so 
fearful  a  death,  and  of  what  he  owed  to  the  poor  lamb. 


*'No  Room  in  Heaven." 

9Q.  When  Admiral  Lord  Exmouth,  in  1816,  put  an  end  to 
that  long  chapter  of  Mohammedan  cruelty,  the  Algerine  trade  in 
Christian  slaves,  releasing  more  than  three  thousand  men,  w^omen, 
and  children  from  bondage,  the  day  of  deliverance  was  a  sad  one 
for  as  many  more,  who  had  deprived  themselves  of  the  privilege 
of  the  treaty.  A  Frenchman,  Pierre  Joseph  Dumont,  who  had 
been  thirty-four  years  in  slavery,  says,  describing  the  scene :  ' '  We 
were  taken  in  by  a  number  of  Knglish  boats,  and  there  it  w^as  that 
our  last  chains  fell  off,  not  without  the  deep  sighs  and  regrets  of 
three  thousand  renegades,  who  despaired  of  obtaining  deliverance 
and  cursed  the  day  wherein  they  apostatized  from  the  Christian 
faith." 

Alas,  for  the  unbelieving  dead,  who  have  forfeited  forever  their 
right  to  the  liberty  of  the  sons  of  God !  They  will  only  awake 
"to  shame  and  everlasting  contempt." 


"Nothing  but  the  B1.00D  of  Jesus." 

lOO.  This  hymn  is  the  expression  of  the  common  Christian 
experience.  It  came  up  from  the  throbbings  of  the  soul.  The 
language  is  simple,  the  music  tender.  There  is  but  little  wit  in 
it,  but  great  power.  It  was  introduced  at  the  camp-meeting  at 
Ocean  Grove,  New  Jersey,  and  took  immediate  possession  of  the 
people.  It  was  used  as  a  processional.  Thousands  of  voices 
joined  in  singing  it.  It  was  the  hymn  for  the  inquiry-meeting 
and  the  seekers  for  a  higher  life.  It  was  sung  all  through  the 
summer,  and  then  carried  away  into  homes  and  prayer  meetings. 
A  missionary  heard  it  in  Madras,  India,  translated  it  into  the 
Telugu  tongue,  and  sent  a  copy  to  the  author,  with  the  story  of 
how  much  good  it  was  doing  among  the  natives. 


"Tele  it  to  Jesus." 

lOX.  The  three  year  old  son  of  Rev.  S.  E.  Bartmess,  having 
disobeyed  his  mamma  one  day,  she  shut  him  in  a  room  alone  to 
punish  him.    After  a  while  she  went  to  the  door  and  found  him 


HYMN  ANECD0TE;S. 


47 


on  his  knees  with  his  hands  uplifted.  "What  are  you  doing, 
Karl?"  she  asked.  "I  am  telling  God  what  a  naughty  boy  I 
have  been,"  was  the  response.  That  would  be  good  business  for 
older  people  as  well. 


"Whosobvbr  Wii.1.." 

I02.  There  is  a  touching  story  of  a  young  woman  in  a  hos- 
pital, who  heard  the  gospel  invitation  given  in  the  words  of  that 
beautiful  offer,  "Whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life 
freely."  Her  changed  appearance  attracted  the  chaplain's  notice, 
and  she  gave  as  the  reason  for  her  happiness  that  she  had  "just 
climbed  up  on  that  ladder  of  '  Whosoever. ' ' ' 


**0,  FOR  A  Thousand  Tongue:s,  to  Sing." 

X03*  Charles  Wesley,  when  speaking  to  Peter  Bohler  of  the 
5ense  of  pardon  sealed  on  his  conscience,  said,  "I  suppose  I  had 
better  keep  silent  about  it."  The  good  Moravian  vShook  him  by 
the  hand,  and  replied,  "Oh  !  no,  my  brother;  if  you  had  ten  thou- 
sand tongues,  go  and  use  them  all  for  Jesus  " ;  and  he  went  home 
and  wrote,  — 

"O,  for  a  thousand  tongues,  to  sing 
M}-  great  Redeemer's  praise; 
The  glories  of  my  God  and  King, 
The  triumphs  of  his  grace." 


"Weeping  will  not  Save  Me." 

104.  This  hymn  was  the  outgrowth  of  a  revival.  Many  souls 
A^ere  weeping,  working,  waiting,  but  not  believing.  The  pastor 
exhorted  them  to  put  immediate  faith  in  Christ.  He  went  home 
and  wrote  this  hymn.  It  is  severely  and  thoroughly  evangelical. 
The  stanzas  are  like  the  heads  of  a  sermon.  A  pastor  in  New 
York  City  stood  up  one  evening  before  his  congregation  and 
sang  three  stanzas  while  the  people  responded  with  the  chorus. 
The  effedl  was  powerful.  Kvery  sinner  seemed  to  see  the  simple 
way  of  salvation.  The  harvest  of  souls  was  great.  This  hymn 
has  been  a  great  comfort  in  multitudes  of  cases. 


48 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


"Ninety  and  Nine." 

105.  Sankey,  the  revival  singer,  tells  of  liis  favorite  song  and 
tlie  way  it  originated : 

"  '  The  Ninety  and  Nine'  I  place  at  the  head  of  the  list.  I  well 
remember  how  I  came  to  compose  the  music  to  the  words.  It  was 
done  on  the  spur  of  a  great  and  exalted  feeling.  When  I  was  go- 
ing from  Edinburgh  to  Glasgow,  I  picked  up  a  paper  on  the  train 
and  came  across  the  words.  They  at  once  struck  me  as  being  full 
of  feeling;  so  I  hid  the  paper  away  in  my  pocket.  The  words 
rang  in  my  ears.  At  Glasgow  we  had  a  glorious  meeting.  Mr. 
Moody  preached  from  the  twenty- third  Psalm.  He  touched  the 
hearts  of  the  people.  When  he  was  about  to  close  his  sermon,  I 
did  not  know  what  to  sing.  I  wanted  to  sele(5l  something  appro- 
priate to  the  sermon,  but  I  found  nothing  suitable.  Those  grand 
words,  full  of  poetry,  simple,  yet  beautiful:  *He  maketh  me  to 
lie  down  in  green  pastures :  he  leadeth  me  beside  the  still  waters. 
He  restoreth  my  soul :  he  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteous- 
ness for  his  name's  sake,'  as  Mr.  Moody  closed  with  them,  adled 
as  an  inspiration.  I  hastily  pulled  the  crumpled  newspaper  from 
my  pocket  and  sang  the  words  of  '  The  Ninety  and  Nine '  to  music 
that  came  to  me  then  and  there.  I  did  not  know  how  the  accom- 
paniment would  go.  The  feeling  of  the  moment  carried  me 
through,  and  I  afterwards  wrote  the  music." 


PART  II. 

REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THK  USK  OF  II.I.USTRATIONS. 

In  revival  work  we  are  in  tlie  realm  of  the  lieart  and  will,  rather 
than  in  that  of  the  reason  or  intellect .  While  the  instru(5tion  of 
the  hearer  has  its  place  in  the  gospel  meeting,  that  place  is  a  sub- 
ordinate one.  If  the  preacher  and  Sunday-school  have  been  doing 
their  work  properly,  instru(5lion  will  not  often  be  necessary  in  the 
revival  meeting.  The  will,  not  simply  the  judgment,  is  the  ob- 
jedl  of  attack,  and  instrudlion  has  value  only  as  it  has  power  over 
the  volitions.  In  moving  the  will,  ideas  are  powerful  only  avS 
they  present  their  subjecftive  aspedls,  as  they  appeal  to  the  feel- 
ings, as  they  reach  the  motives,  the  springs  of  choice  and  adlion. 
The  purpose  to  effedt  immediate  results,  to  move  the  will  to  im- 
mediate acftion,  must  govern  the  evangelistic  worker  in  every 
phase  of  his  adtivity.  His  plans  and  ways  of  working,  the  choice 
of  his  themes,  the  arrangement  of  his  materials,  the  methods  of 
his  address — all  must  obey  the  imperious  rule  of  this  idea. 

Among  other  things,  his  illustrations  must  be  governed  by  this 
shaping  purpose.  While  ornamentation,  explanation,  and  proof, 
the  ordinary  uses  of  illustration,  are  by  no  means  cast  aside,  they 
are  subordinated  to  the  purpose  of  impressing  the  feelings  and 
waking  the  emotions  of  the  hearer.  Its  appeal  to  the  heart  is  the 
final  test  of  the  value  of  an  illustration  for  revival  purposes. 
Tried  by  this  test,  there  is  a  complete  change  from  the  standards 
obtaining  for  regular  discourse  in  the  relative  importance  of  illus- 
trations. Mere  dignity  and  beauty  taking  the  lowermost  seats 
61 


62  THE  GosPEiv  worker's  treasury. 

and  being  but  little  considered,  whole  classes  of  illustrations, 
scientific  and  historical,  are  ruled  out  as  worthy  of  only  the  rarest 
use.  The  relative  value  of  illustrations  for  proof  also  suffers  a 
change,  as  those  containing  an  emotional  element  are  to  be  pre- 
ferred. In  explanatory  illustrations,  the  appeal  to  the  sympa- 
thies is  emphasized  and  demanded  even  more.  Added  to  these, 
comes  in  a  class  of  illustrations  which  usually  have  little  place 
in  discourse — those  which  have  no  other  obje(5l  than  the  touch- 
ing of  the  heart.  Logic  here  is  not  that  of  the  head,  but  that  of 
the  heart ;  it  is  not  the  harmony  of  ideas,  but  of  feelings.  When 
one  heart-string  is  set  in  motion,  its  related  accordant  strings  are 
thrilled  as  well,  and  are  prepared  to  respond  more  quickly  and 
powerfully  when  their  help  is  needed.  Not  so  much  the  illus- 
tration of  a  thought,  as  the  preparation  of  the  heart  to  receive 
a  thought,  is  here  the  legitimate  purpose. 

While  the  anecdote  is  rarely  accorded  a  place  in  the  more  dig- 
nified forms  of  discourse,  it  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  use  of 
the  gospel  worker.  It  gives  variety,  and  thus  adds  interest  and 
chains  the  attention.  It  appeals  to  the  mind  and  heart  of  every 
class,  young  and  old,  cultured  and  illiterate.  Adults  are,  after 
all,  but  grown-up  children,  and  have  not  outgrown  their  love  of 
stories,  as  the  numerous  collecftions  of  ana  in  literary,  scientific, 
artistic,  and  other  fields  of  knowledge,  abundantly  testify.  The 
anecdote  makes  concrete  the  idea  to  be  expressed,  and  brings  it 
within  the  range  of  human  sympathy.  As  violin  answers  to  vio- 
lin, so  the  human  heart  responds  to  the  history  of  the  beatings 
of  other  human  hearts.  Ideas  take  on  flesh  and  blood  in  the  an- 
ecdote, and  are  no  longer  phantoms  that  haunt  the  intellecft,  with- 
out power  to  produce  results.  For  revival  purposes,  therefore,  the 
anecdote  must  remain  the  leading,  and  the  most  powerful  and  ef- 
fective, form  of  illustration. 

The  more  essential  elements  of  an  effedlive  revival  anecdote 
may  be  enumerated  as  follows : 

I.  It  must  be  brief  Every  detail  which  is  unimportant,  or 
which  the  hearer  can  infer  from  the  details  already  stated,  ought 
to  be  omitted.  During  the  progress  of  a  long  tale,  the  atten- 
tion of  the  hearer  is  wearied  by  the  suspense  of  the  mind  un- 
certain of  the  connection  to  be  established  between  the  thought 


REvivAi,  ane:cdote:s. 


53 


and  its  illustration;  or,  what  is  worse,  the  idea  to  be  empha- 
sized is  entirely  forgotten.  The  progress  of  thought  and  feel- 
ing in  the  discourse  is  broken,  and  the  unity  of  the  discourse 
destroyed.  Besides,  it  occupies  time  which  can  be  more  profita- 
bly employed. 

2.  The  anecdote  must  have  point.  No  mere  stringing  together 
of  details  will  be  effedlive.  It  must  have  unity,  must  make  prog- 
ress as  it  develops,  and  must  culminate  in  some  facft,  sentence, 
or  phrase,  of  such  interest  as  to  justify  its  narration,  and  of  such 
meaning  as  to  mark  a  definite  step  of  progress  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  thought.  If  the  point  is  concentrated  in  a  single 
phrase,  it  will  be  all  the  more  incisive  and  valuable. 

3.  But  that  point  must  be  pertinent  to  the  thought  and  feeling 
in  course  of  development;  the  word  feeling  ought  to  be  empha- 
sized, as  many  an  anecdote,  while  logically  pertinent,  is  emotion- 
ally discordant,  and  its  effedl  is  worse  than  if  it  were  not  pertinent 
in  thought  but  harmonious  in  feeling.  The  more  striking  the 
point  of  an  anecdote,  the  more  harmful  will  it  be  if  it  is  not  in 
harmony  with  its  associated  thoughts  and  feeling,  as  its  distracft- 
ing  force  is  in  so  far  greater.  But  the  clearer  the  relation  of  the 
thought  and  the  illustration,  the  greater  the  impression  upon  the 
hearer,  even  the  most  uncritical. 

4.  The  more  life  and  dramatic  force  contained  in  the  incident, 
the  more  interesting  it  will  be,  of  course,  to  the  hearer,  and  the 
more  effedlive.  This  is  the  case  only  when  the  immediate  effect 
upon  the  will  is  desired,  when  all  the  interest  of  life  and  a(5tion 
which  will  increase  point  and  pertinency  adds  to  the  effe(5liveness 
of  an  anecdote.  When  the  purpose  is  simply  instru(5lion,  this  is 
not  true,  as  the  more  interesting  and  striking  the  illustration,  the 
more  likely  is  the  hearer  to  remember  the  illustration  and  forget 
the  truth  illustrated. 

5.  A  large  proportion  of  revival  anecdotes  ought  to  make  a 
direct  appeal  to  the  sensibilities  of  the  hearer.  An  appeal  to  the 
fundamental  affections,  to  the  mutual  love  of  parents  and  chil- 
dren, of  brothers  and  sisters,  of  husbands  and  wives,  rarely  fails 
to  meet  a  response.  But  the  broader  sympathies — for  children, 
for  the  heroic  and  brave,  for  the  distressed  in  body  or  mind — are 
hardly  less  responsive,  and  deserve  the  attention  of  the  revival 


64 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


Speaker.  Anecdotes  which,  stir  the  emotional  nature,  the  sense 
of  the  beautiful,  of  the  sublime,  which  wake  joy  or  sadness,  or 
generate  enthusiasm,  or  put  in  motion  any  of  the  other  aggressive 
emotions  which  can  be  utilized  for  moving  the  will  to  make  a 
right  choice,  are  extremely  valuable,  and  should  be  sought  with 
diligence.  Every  part  of  the  sensibilities  of  the  hearer  may  thus 
be  played  upon,  and  utilized  to  affect  the  will,  and  induce  its  action 
in  the  desired  direction. 

6.  An  anecdote,  to  be  useful,  must  be  fresh.  An  old  anecdote 
awakens  no  interest  in  the  hearer,  because  the  element  of  surprise 
has  been  eliminated.  An  unexpected  application  of  an  incident 
that  is  well  known,  however,  is  peculiarly  effective.  A  constant 
supply  of  fresh  incidents  must  therefore  be  secured  from  one's 
reading  and  observation.  The  religious  press  teems  with  valua- 
ble illustrations,  with  the  applications  already  furnished.  To 
the  suggestive  mind,  the  secular  newspapers  furnish  most  desira- 
ble matter.  But  the  best  sources  are  personal  experience  and  ob- 
servation. Comparatively  uninteresting  incidents  have  a  strange 
charm  when  related  as  personal  knowledge.  Nor  should  any  self- 
conscious  modesty  lead  us  to  make  the  narration  of  our  experi- 
ences impersonal,  or  to  hide  our  participation  in  them;  for,  by  so 
doing,  we  surrender  vantage  ground  which  we  can  ill  afford  to 
lose.  One  ought  to  learn  to  speak  of  his  own  experiences  as  in- 
differently and  unaffectedly  as  of  those  of  any  other  person,  and 
when  that  is  done  there  will  be  no  imputation  or  complaint  of 
egotism.  One's  experiences  in  revival  meetings  are  particularly 
valuable,  and  the  habit  should  be  formed  of  carefully  noting  every 
striking  incident,  and  filing  it  away  for  future  use. 

It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  illustrations  are  the 
servants,  not  the  masters,  of  the  thought  to  be  expressed.  To 
gather  together  a  number  of  illustrations  of  a  given  theme,  and 
then  to  build  up  a  discourse  about  these,  is  an  act  of  folly  whose 
effect  can  be  evil  only.  Moreover,  not  the  illustration,  but  the 
thought,  is  to  be  emphasized.  Care  should  also  be  taken  not  to 
use  too  many  illustrations.  A  sermon  that  is  but  a  mosaic  of  an- 
ecdotes may  be  very  interesting,  but,  like  an  arrow  that  is  all 
feathers,  will  produce  little  effect.  It  produces  in  the  hearer  a 
false  mental  attitude  which  defeats  the  ^nds  proposed.    He  loses 


4 


RKvivAi.  ane:cdotks.  65 

the  sense  of  personal  relation  to  the  truth  he  hears,  and  becomes 
a  mere  spectator,  waiting  to  be  amused. 

Every  illustration  that  is  used  should  at  least  seem  to  spring-  up 
spontaneously  in  the  speaker's  mind,  growing  out  of  the  thought 
itself  When  the  hearer  feels  that  an  anecdote  is  laboriously  and 
mechanically  lugged  in,  it  has  become  worse  than  useless.  The 
speaker  should  have  not  only  faith  in  his  illustration,  but  a  full 
sympathy  with  its  spirit.  This  sympathy  is  absolutely  essential 
to  the  effective  use  of  any  anecdote,  the  feeling  of  the  speaker 
kindling  that  of  his  hearers. 

The  following  collection  of  illustrative  anecdotes  is  offered  to 
the  worker,  with  the  hope  that  they  may  prove  useful  and  eftective. 
In  order  to  facilitate  reference,  it  has  been  thoroughly  systema- 
tized, while  full  indexes  nearly  double  the  value  of  the  collection 
by  suggesting  other  applications  of  the  anecdote  than  those  found 
in  the  body  of  the  book. 


I 


GOD 


I.  GOD 


 (l.)  EXISTENCE. 


Arab's  Prooi^. 


lo6.  Some  years  ago  a  Frenchman,  who,  like  many  of  his 
countrymen,  had  won  a  high  rank  among  men  of  science,  yet 
who  denied  the  God  who  is  the  author  of  all  science,  was  crossing 
the  great  Sahara  in  company  with  an  Arab  guide.  He  noticed, 
with  a  sneer,  that  at  certain  times  his  guide,  whatever  obstacles 
might  arise,  put  them  all  aside,  and  kneeling  on  the  burning  sands 
called  on  his  God. 

Day  after  day  passed,  and  still  the  Arab  never  failed,  till  at  last 
one  evening  the  philosopher,  when  he  arose  from  his  knees,  asked 
him  with  a  contemptuous  smile,  ' '  How  do  you  know  there  is  a 
God  ? ' '  The  guide  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  scoffer  for  a  moment  in 
wonder,  and  then  said  solemnly  :  ' '  How  do  I  know  there  is  a  God  ? 
How  did  I  know  that  a  man  and  not  a  camel  passed  my  hut  last 
night  in  the  darkness  ?  Was  it  not  by  the  print  of  his  foot  in  the 
sand  ?  Even  so, ' '  and  he  pointed  to  the  sun,  whose  last  rays 
were  flashing  over  the  lonel}^  desert,  ''that  foot-print  is  not  that 
of  a  man." 


roj.  The  late  Judge  James  R.  Curry,  of  New  Orleans,  gave 
this  account  of  what  made  him  a  Christian,  when  a  young  man, 
just  entering  the  pradlice  of  the  law: 

"I  was  what  might  be  called  a  skeptic.  Harrison  (at  Natchez), 
a  noble,  whole-souled  man,  whom  I  almost  revered  as  a  father, 
had  a  Chri,stian  wife,  but  was  himself  a  confirmed  deist,  and  soon 
found  me  out,  and  was  not  slow  in  endeavoring  to  instill  into  my 
mind  his  notions.  He  charged  me,  however,  not  to  let  his  wife 
know  that  he  was  a  deist,  or  that  I  was  skeptical. 


An  Advantageous  Error. 


56 


■REVIVAL,  AN:eCDOTE;S. 


57 


*'I  asked  why;  and  lie  remarked,  'If  I  were  to  marry  a  hun- 
dred times,  I  would  marry  only  a  pious  woman.' 
"I  said,  'Why?' 

' '  He  replied:  '  If  she  is  pious,  it  makes  her  a  better  wife,  a  bet- 
ter mother,  a  better  mistress,  a  better  neighbor.  If  she  is  poor, 
it  enables  her  to  bear  adversity  with  patience  and  fortitude.  If 
she  is  rich  and  prosperous,  it  lessens  her  desire  for  mere  show. 
And  when  she  comes  to  die,  if  she  is  in  error  she  is  as  well  off  as 
you  and  I ;  and  if  we  are  in  error,  she  is  a  thousand  times  bet- 
ter off.' 

' '  I  asked  him  if  he  knew  of  any  other  error  attended  with  so 
many  advantages.  His  reply  was  evasive ;  and  soon  after  I  de- 
termined to  examine  for  myself. ' ' 


Hard  on  Ingbrsoi^l. 

Io8.  He  came  into  the  editor's  room  yesterday  and  stood  for 
a  minute  looking  straight  at  the  troubled  and  melancholy  jour- 
nalist seated  at  the  desk. 

* '  Do  you  want  a  good  drive  at  Ingersoll  ? ' ' 

The  editor  told  the  visitor  to  proceed. 

"Well,"  said  he,  "  now  follow  me  closely.  Ingersoll  does  not 
believe  in  worshiping  God  or  in  worshiping  idols.  He  claims  that 
when  a  people  gets  to  the  point  where  they  discard  both,  they 
have  reached  the  pinnacle  of  enlightenment.  Now,  what  is  the 
truth  ?  Is  he  the  originator  of  that  idea  ?  Not  a  bit.  There  is  a 
nation  on  earth  that  has  had  his  belief  for  ages,  and  they  are 
none  other  than  the  barbarous  Zulus  of  Africa.  All  authorities 
agree  in  saying  that  they  worship  neither  God  nor  idols.  They 
are  on  Bob's  platform,  or  rather  he  is  on  theirs.  There  you  have 
a  practical  illustration  of  his  principles  put  into  pracftice.  Why 
haven't  they  advanced?  Why  haven't  they  progressed?  Why 
are  they  not  enlightened  ?  He}^  ? ' '  And  the  visitor  drew  himself 
back  and  scowled  at  the  journalist,  as  if  to  compel  an  answer. 


A  Skeptic's  Envy. 

lOQ.  Dr.  Prime,  editor  of  the  New  York  Observer,  gives  the 
following  proof  of  the  hollowness  of  skepticism :  ' '  George  Rip- 
ley, of  tiie  New  York  Tribune,  who  died  last  summer, — a  great 
man,  a  man  of  letters,  of  philosophy,  and  of  the  highest  culture, 
whom  I  was  proud  to  call  my  friend, — adhered  to  the  school  of 
thought  which  rejedts  the  gospel  and  the  Bible.    As  we  were 


68 


THE  GOSPE:Iv  worker's  TREASURY. 


riding  together  a  few  weeks  before  lie  died,  and  when  he  was  in 
perfecft  health  and  vigor,  he  said  to  me,  '  I  never  see  you  without 
a  feeling  of  envy.'  On  my  expression  of  surprise,  he  added, 
'  Your  mind  seems  to  be  at  rest  in  regard  to  the  future,  while  mine 
is  not.' " 


Infinite  Contempt. 

no.  Says  a  writer  in  the  Whitehall  (N.  Y.)  Review  : 
"An  infidel  colonel  of  volunteers,  named  Robert  IngersoU,  is 
delivering  a  series  of  Sunday  evening  le(5lures  at  a  theater  in  New 
York,  in  which  religion  is  ridiculed  and  attacked  with  scarcely 
any  limit  of  epithet  and  imagery.  The  gallant  colonel  boasts 
that  he  has  defied  the  Almighty  for  years,  and  has  never  been 
harmed  by  him.  This  reminds  me  of  the  reply  made  at  the  '  Sav- 
age Club '  by  an  ex-clergyman  named  Barton  to  poor  Tom  Robert- 
son, who  was  indulging  in  a  somewhat  similar  style  of  idle  talk. 
'You  forget,  Tom,'  said  Barton,  'that  the  Almighty  is  capable  of 
infinite  contempt  as  well  as  of  infinite  justice.'  " 


An  Ineidei/  Answered. 

Ill,  At  the  close  of  an  infidel  lecture  in  England,  a  short 
time  ago,  the  speaker  called  upon  anybody  in  the  audience  to 
stand  up  and  answer  him,  when  up  rose  a  collier.  ' '  Maister  Brad- 
laugh,"  says  he,  "me  and  my  mate  Jim  were  both  Methodys  till 
one  o'  these  infidel  chaps  cam'  along  this  way.  Jim  turned  infi- 
del, and  used  to  badger  me  about  attending  prayer-meeting ;  but 
one  day  in  the  pit  a  large  cob  o'  coal  cam'  down  on  Jim's  head. 
Jim  thought  he  was  killed,  and,  oh,  mon,  but  he  did  holler  and 
cry  to  God. ' '  Then,  with  a  knowing  look  to  the  listener,  ' '  Young 
mon,  there's  nowt  like  cobs  o'  coal  for  knocking  the  infidelity  out 
o'  a  mon." 


Ineidees  Going  Astray. 

112.  To  a  young  infidel  who  scoffed  at  Christianity  on  account 
of  the  misconducft  of  some  of  its  professors.  Dr.  Mason  said,  "Did 
you  ever  hear  of  an  uproar  being  made  because  an  infidel  went 
astray  from  the  paths  of  morality  ? ' '  The  infidel  admitted  that 
he  had  not.  "Then,"  said  the  Dodlor,  "you  admit  that  Chris- 
tianity is  a  holy  religion,  by  expecting  its  professors  to  be  holy ; 
and  thus,  by  your  very  scoffing,  you  pay  it  the  highest  compli- 
ment in  your  power. ' ' 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


59 


An  Infidel  Reproved, 

113.  An  infidel  was  once  talking  to  a  crowd  of  willing-  list- 
eners, when  an  old  man,  gray-haired  and  leaning  on  a  staff,  fol- 
lowed him  to  his  door  and  said :  "I  used  to  know  your  mother. 
She  didn't  teach  you  such  sentiments.  You  don't  really  believe 
them.  You  are  sinning  against  great  light.  Remember  the  way 
of  transgressors  is  hard."  The  young  man  turned  away  in  si- 
lence. He  had  no  rest  until  he  became  a  Christian.  He  lived  to 
preach  where  the  old  man  was  present,  to  whom  he  gave  thanks 
for  his  fidelity. 


An  Infidel  Converted. 

114.  Ex-Bishop  D.  Shuck  relates  the  following  incident  which 
he  himself  witnessed.  An  infidel  of  wide  reading,  and  skillful  in 
argument,  took  pleasure  in  worsting  men  of  less  ability  in  dis- 
cussions on  religion.  One  day,  as  he  was  walking  in  the  woods, 
he  heard  a  voice,  and,  going  nearer,  he  heard  an  old  man  w^ho  had 
been  a  drunkard,  but  who  had  been  reclaimed  and  converted,  in 
earnest  pra3-er.  The  remarkable  change  in  the  man's  life  had  al- 
ready left  its  impression,  and  this  incident  only  deepened  it.  A 
vshort  time  later,  he  attended  a  meeting  for  testimonj^,  during  a 
revival,  and  heard  the  old  man  testify  to  the  power  of  Christ  to 
save  to  the  uttermost.  Immediately  afterward,  one  of  his  sing- 
ing-school scholars  (for  he  was  also  the  singing-teacher  of  the 
community),  a  young  lady  for  whom  he  had  great  respedl,  rose 
and  gave  expression  to  a  touching  experience.  The  infidel,  who 
had  come  to  scoff,  was  completely  broken  down,  and  crying, 
"Here  comes  a  Saul  of  Tarsus,"  he  rushed  to  the  altar  of  prayer, 
and,  within  a  few  days,  he  was  soundly  converted,  and  afterward 
became  a  useful  minister  of  the  gospel. 


Heine  and  the  Venus  of  Milo. 

1x5.  An  affecfting  story  is  told  of  Heinrich  Heine,  the  Ger- 
man writer,  who  was  prematurely  disabled  by  disease,  and  utterly 
heart-sick  and  weary.  In  the  Louvre,  one  of  the  art-palaces  of 
Paris,  there  is  the  famous  statue  called  the  "Venus  of  Milo,"  the 
bewitching  goddess  of  pleasure,  which,  by  the  rude  accident  of 
time,  has  lost  both  its  arms,  but  preserves  much  of  its  supreme, 
enchanting  beauty.  At  the  feet  of  this  statue,  Heine  cast  him- 
self down  in  remorse  and  despair,  and,  to  use  his  own  words, 
"There  I  lay  a  long  time,  and  wept  so  passionately  that  a  stone 


60 


the;  gospei.  worker's  treasury. 


must  have  had  compassion  on  me.  The  goddess  looked  down 
compassionately  upon  me,  but  she  was  helpless  to  console  me. 
She  looked  as  if  she  would  sa}^  'See  you  not  that  I  have  no 
arms,  and  that  therefore  I  can  give  you  no  help?'"  So,  vain 
and  useless  is  it  to  look  to  any  for  spiritual  help  and  comfort,  ex- 
cept to  Him  of  w^hom  it  is  declared,  "Behold,  the  Lord's  hand  is 
not  shortened,  that  it  cannot  save. ' ' 


(2.)  ATTRIBUTES. 


{a.)  Omnipotence. 


The  Great  Unseen  Arm. 

Mr.  Oncken  was  summoned  before  the  burgomaster  of 
Hamburg,  who  bade  him  cease  from  holding  religious  meetings. 
' '  Do  you  see  that  little  finger  ? ' '  cried  he.  ' '  As  long  as  I  can 
move  that  finger,  I  will  put  down  the  Baptists."  "Yes,"  said 
Oncken,  ' '  I  see  your  little  finger,  and  I  also  see  a  great  arm  which 
3'ou  cannot  see.  As  long  as  the  great  arm  of  God  is  lifted  on  our 
behalf,  your  little  finger  will  have  no  terror  for  us." 


The  Arm  op  Richard. 

117.  When  Saladin  asked  to  see  the  sword  of  Richard  the 
Lion-hearted,  he  was  surprised  to  find  it  of  no  better  steel  than 
his  own,  and  asked  that  iDold  warrior  with  what  he  had  slain  so 
many.  Baring  his  arm,  he  replied,  "Not  the  sword,  but  the  arm 
of  Richatd.'" 

Every  disciple  has  the  "sword  of  the  Spirit."  But  he  only 
wins  victories  with  it,  when  he  remembers  that  the  arm  of  God 
must  wield  it. 


jEsus  Stronger  than  Satan. — I.  John  4:4. 

1X8.    A  little  boy  came  to  his  father,  looking  very  much  in 
earnest,  and  asked,  ' '  Father,  is  Satan  bigger  than  I  am  ? ' ' 
' '  Yes,  my  boy, ' '  said  the  father. 
"  Is  he  bigger  than  ^-^ou.  Father  ? ' ' 
"Yes,  my  bo}^  he  is  bigger  than  your  father." 


re;vivai^  anecdotes.  61 

The  boy  looked  surprised,  but  thought  again,  and  then  asked, 
"  Is  he  bigger  than  Jesus  ?  " 

"No,  my  boy,"  answered  the  father;  "Jesus  is  bigger  than 
he  is." 

The  little  fellow,  as  he  turned  away,  said,  with  a  smile,  "Then 
I  am  not  afraid  of  him. " 

"Little  children,  .  .  .  greater  is  He  that  is  in  you,  than  he 
that  is  in  the  world. ' ' 


A  Kentucky  Feud. 

119.  Henry  Clay  once  replied  to  some  sneering  allusion  to 
the  character  of  American  evangelical  Christianity :  "  I  do  not 
know  pradtically  about  w^hat  the  churches  call  religion.  I  wish  I 
did.  But  I  do  know  what  it  effedls."  And  then  citing  the  case 
of  a  bitter  feud  between  two  neighboring  families  in  Kentucky, 
which  had  kept  the  community  in  a  ferment  for  years,  but  had  at 
last  been  settled  by  the  conversion  of  both  parties,  he  said:  "I 
tell  you,  that  whatever  will  change  a  Kentucky  feud  into  loving 
fellowship  so  soon  and  effedlively,  is  of  God.  No  power  short  of 
his  could  do  it." 


Luther  Taught  by  his  Wiee. 

I20.  Great-souled  Martin  Luther  could  believe  and  doubt 
against  any  man  of  his  time ;  in  believing  he  could  excel  the 
angels,  and  in  horrible  thoughts  of  doubting  he  could  almost 
match  the  devils.  Great-hearted  men  are  subje(5t  to  horrible  fits 
of  faintness  and  despair  unknown  to  minds  of  smaller  caliber. 
One  day  he  fell  so  low  in  spirits  that  his  friends  were  frightened 
at  what  he  might  say  or  do.  He  went  home,  but  when  he  came 
to  the  door  nobody  welcomed  him.  He  entered  their  best  room, 
and  there  sat  Catharine,  his  wife,  all  dressed  in  black,  weeping  as 
from  a  death  in  the  house.  By  her  side  lay  a  mourning  cloak, 
such  as  ladies  wear  at  funerals.  "Ah,"  says  he,  "Kate,  what 
matters  now  ?  Is  the  child  dead  ? ' '  She  shook  her  head,  and  said 
the  little  ones  were  alive,  but  something  much  worse  than  that 
had  happened.  Luther  cried,  "Oh,  what  has  befallen  us  ?  Tell 
me  quick.  I  am  sad  enough  as  it  is.  Tell  me  quick."  "Good 
man,"  said  she,  "have  you  not  heard?  Is  it  possible  that  the 
terrilDle  news  has  not  reached  you?"  This  made  the  reformer 
the  more  inquisitive  and  ardent,  and  he  pressed  to  be  immediately 
told  of  the  cause  of  sorrow.  "Why,"  said  Kate,  "have  you  not 
been  told  that  our  Heavenly  Father  is  dead,  and  his  cause  in  the 
world  is  therefore  overturned?"    Martin  stood  and  looked  at 


62 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


her,  and  at  last  burst  into  sucIl  a  laugli  tliat  lie  could  not  possi- 
bly contain  himself,  but  cried,  ' '  Kate,  I  read  thy  riddle.  What 
a  fool  I  am !  God  is  not  dead.  He  ever  lives ;  but  I  have  adted 
as  if  he  were  dead.   Thou  hast  taught  me  a  good  lesson." 


The  ConsteivEations  in  their  Peaces. 

It  is  related  of  Abraham  Lincoln  that  when  he  was  a 
young  man  he  boarded  with  a  deacon,  who  came  one  night  to  his 
room  and  told  him  to  rise,  for  the  stars  were  falling,  and  the 
Judgment  Day  had  come.  Young  Lincoln  rose  and  looked  out  of 
the  window,  and  sure  enough  the  stars  seemed  to  be  falling  in 
showers.  But  when  he  looked  away  in  the  celestial  distance,  far 
above  the  flying  meteors,  and  saw  the  grand  old  constellations 
firm  in  their  places,  just  as  he  had  seen  them  from  his  childhood, 
he  returned  quietly  to  his  bed,  feeling  that  all  was  well. 

Faith's  eye  is  on  the  Star  of  Bethlehem.  When  every  sun  and 
planet  has  fallen,  that  will  still  shine. 


On  the  Lord's  Side. 

122.  "We  trust  the  Lord  is  on  our  side,  Mr.  Lincoln,"  said 
the  speaker  of  a  delegation  of  Christian  people  to  that  good  man, 
during  one  of  the  darkest  days  of  the  late  war.  "  I  do  not  regard 
that  as  so  essential  as  something  else, ' '  replied  Mr.  Lincoln.  The 
worthy  visitors  looked  horror-struck,  until  the  President  added, 
"I  am  most  concerned  to  know  that  we  are  on  the  Lord's  side." 


God  is  with  Us. 

123.  The  aged  John  Wesley,  a  short  time  before  his  death,  at- 
tempted to  speak,  but  could  not  make  his  friends  understand. 
Finally,  gathering  all  his  remaining  strength,  he  exclaimed, 
"The  best  of  all  is,  God  is  with  us/^* 


God's  Answer  to  Man's  Defiance. 

124.  Chaplain  McCabe  tells  that,  in  a  Dakota  town,  a  follower 
of  Colonel  IngersoU  said  he  would  build  a  barn  that  ' '  God  Al- 
mighty couldn't  blow  down."  So  he  erecfled  a  solid  strucfture 
entirely  of  stone;  and  then  the  first  cyclone  that  came  along 


RE^VIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


doubled  that  barn  about  as  a  giant  would  a  baby,  not  leaving  one 
stone  on  another.  Since  then  the  man  has  been  more  modest  in 
his  asseverations. 


Defying  Goi>. 

125.  A  century  ago,  an  infidel  German  countess,  dying,  gave 
orders  that  her  grave  should  be  covered  with  a  solid  slab  of  granite ; 
that  around  it  be  placed  square  blocks  of  stone;  and  that  the  whole 
be  fastened  together  by  strong  iron  clasps.  On  the  stone,  by  her 
order,  these  words  were  cut:  "This  burial  place,  purchased  to  all 
eternity,  must  never  be  opened. ' '  Thus  she  defied  the  Almighty. 
But  a  little  seed  sprouted  under  the  covering,  and  the  tiny  shoot 
found  its  way  through  between  two  of  the  slabs,  and  grew  there, 
slowly  and  surely,  and  lifted  the  immense  blocks.  No  wonder 
the  people  of  Hanover  looked  at  the  tree  and  opening  grave  as 
God's  answer  to  the  terrible  defiance  of  the  young  countess. 


God  is  Nowhere. 

126.  ' *  God  is  nowhere, ' '  was  the  fool's  motto  which  an  infidel 
lawyer  nailed  up  in  his  office.  One  day  his  little  daughter  spelled 
out  the  words,  but  made  a  mistake  in  dividing  the  letters,  "  God- 
is -now -here."  Her  father  corredled  her,  but  she  soon  read  it 
wrong  again.  The  trifling  circumstance  impressed  the  man  so 
much  that  he  finally  abandoned  his  infidelity,  and  became  a  wor- 
shiper of  the  ever-present  God. 


(d.)  Omniscience. 


God's  Kye  is  Upon  Us. 

127.  When  the  Scotch-Frenchman,  Macdonald,  was  trying  to 
lead  up  his  men  to  a  desperate  charge,  his  eye,  sweeping  the  hill 
through  a  glass,  caught  sight  of  the  I^ittle  Corporal.  Rising  in 
his  stirrups,  Macdonald  said,  "Soldiers,  the  eye  of  Napoleon  is 
upon  us  "  ;  and  they  went  up  and  swept  the  enemy  before  them. 


64 


THE  GOSPEIv  AVORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Cut  the  Byes  Out. 

128.  I  remember  hearing  of  a  girl  who  went  into  lier  master's 
room,  a  room  not  much  frequented,  to  steal.  Now,  there  was  a 
portrait  in  the  room,  and  the  eyes  of  the  portrait  seemed  to  follow 
her  wherever  she  went,  and  she  felt  annoyed  by  it ;  and  in  order 
that  she  might  steal  without  this  rebuke,  she  took  down  the  por- 
trait and  cul  the  eyes  out. 

Poor  thing!  If  she  could  have  plucked  out  God's,  eye,  she 
might  have  sinned  without  remorse.  But  so  long  as  God's  eye 
was  upon  her,  it  was  a  vain  thing  that  the  eye  of  a  portrait  could 
follow  her  no  more. 


Thou  God  Seest  Me. 

129.  Professor  Mitchell,  of  the  Cincinnati  Astronomical  Ob- 
servatory, one  day,  to  test  his  telescope,  looked  down  the  river, 
and  on  a  hill  thirty  miles  away,  in  Indiana,  he  saw  boys  stealing 
apples. 


The  Very  Dust  a  Witness. 

130.  Once,  in  a  certain  part  of  Germany,  a  box  of  treasure, 
that  was  being  sent  by  railway,  was  found  to  have  been  opened 
and  emptied  of  its  contents,  and  filled  with  stones  and  rubbish. 
The  question  w^as.  Who  was  the  robber?  Some  sand  was  found 
sticking  to  the  box,  and  a  clever  mineralogist,  having  looked  at 
the  grains  of  sand  through  his  microscope,  said  that  there  was 
only  one  station  on  the  railway  where  there  was  that  kind  of 
sand.  Then  they  knew  that  the  box  must  have  been  taken  out 
at  that  station,  and  so  they  found  out  who  was  the  robber.  The 
dust  under  his  feet,  where  he  had  set  down  the  box  to  open  it,  was 
a  witness  against  him. 


An  Awning  over  the  Door. 

131.  A  little  boy,  about  five  years  of  age,  was  sent  to  the 
grocery  store  on  some  trifling  errand,  and  while  there  his  bright 
eyes  lighted  upon  a  barrel  of  pippins  exposed  temptingly  to  view 
just  outside  of  the  door.  In  going  out  he  took  one,  and  returned 
to  his  mother,  munching  it.  "Where  did  you  get  that  nice  ap- 
ple, Willie  ? ' '  inquired  his  mother.  ' '  Dot  it  at  the  drocery, ' '  re- 
plied Willie.    "Did  the  man  give  it  to  you ?"    "No;  I  took  it." 


RBVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


65 


* '  Why,  Willie,  that  was  naughty.  You  should  not  take  apples 
or  anything  else  without  permission."  "But  nobody  saw  me," 
' '  Ah,  yes,  Willie,  there  was  One  who  saw  you. "  "  Who  saw  me  ? ' ' 
"Why,  God  saw  you."  Willie  stopped  a  moment  to  consider, 
and  then,  with  a  good  deal  of  satisfaction  expressed  in  his  face, 
replied,  "No,  he  didn't  see  me;  there  was  an  awning  over  the 
door  ! ' ' 


(r.)  Justice. 


Meeting  at  the  Judgment. 

X32.  Mr.  Moffatt,  the  missionary,  was  once  talking  with  a 
great  chief,  in  the  interior  of  Africa,  and  alluded  to  the  resurrec- 
tion. "What!"  cried  the  chief,  starting  with  surprise;  "What 
are  these  words  about  the  dead  ?  The  dead  rise "  "  Yes, ' '  replied 
the  missionary,  ' '  all  the  dead  shall  rise. ' '  The  chief,  laying  his 
hand  on  his  breast,  said  to  the  missionary:  "Father,  I  love  you 
much.  The  words  of  your  mouth  are  sweet  like  honey;  but  the 
words  of  the  resurrecftion  are  too  great  for  me.  I  do  not  wish  to 
hear  about  the  dead  rising  again ;  the  dead  cannot  rise ;  the  dead 
shall  not  rise."  "Tell  me,  my  friend,"  said  the  missionary, 
"why  must  I  not  speak  of  the  resurrection  ? "  Lifting  his  arm, 
which  had  been  so  strong  in  battle,  as  if  grasping  a  spear,  the 
chief  cried,  "I  have  slain  my  thousands,  and  shall  they  rise.?" 
The  thought  of  meeting  his  slain  was  too  much  for  him.  It  is  a 
great  and  terrible  thought  that  we  shall  have  to  meet  again  all 
whom  we  have  negledted,  injured,  or  destroyed. 


Judgment  Scenes  Prefigured. 

133,  The  panic  in  London  at  the  approach  of  Whiston's 
comet,  in  17 12, — half  whimsical,  half  solemn, — is  a  too  probable 
pi(5lure  of  what  poor,  idolatrous  human  nature  will  do  at  the 
alarm  of  the  final  judgment.  Mr.  Whiston,  who  was  highly 
credited,  both  as  a  divine  and  a  philosopher,  predi(5led  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  comet  on  Wednesday,  October  24th,  and  added 
(by  a  stretch  of  his  imagination),  that  the  world  would  be  burned 
up  on  the  following  Friday. 

The  comet  appeared  as  foretold,  and  struck  terror  into  all  hearts. 
A  number  of  persons  in  and  about  London  seized  all  the  boats 
5 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


and  barges  the}'  could  la}"  hands  on  in  the  Thames,  vers'  rationally 
concluding  that  when  the  conflagration  took  place,  there  would 
be  the  most  safety  on  the  water.  A  gentleman  who  had  neglecled 
family  pra3'ers  for  more  than  five  j^ears,  informed  his  wife  that  he 
was  determined  to  resume  that  laudable  practice  the  same  even- 
ing. The  South  Sea  stock  inimediatel}^  fell  to  five  per  cent.,  and 
the  East  India  to  eleven,  and  the  captain  of  a  Dutch  ship  threw 
all  his  powder  into  the  river  that  the  ship  might  not  be  endan- 
gered. 

Before  noon,  the  belief  became  universal  that  the  Day  of  Judg- 
ment was  at  hand.  About  this  time,  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  clergymen  were  ferried  to  lyambeth,  it  is  said,  to  petition 
that  a  short  pra^-er  might  be  penned  and  ordered,  there  being 
none  in  the  church  ser\'ice  that  would  answer  on  such  an  occa- 
sion. Three  maids  of  honor  burned  their  colleclion  of  novels  and 
plaj'S,  and  sent  to  the  book-sellers  to  bu}"  them  a  Bible  and  Bishop 
Ta3dor's  ' '  Holy  Living  and  D34ng. ' '  The  run  upon  the  bank  was 
so  prodigious  that  all  hands  were  emplo^-ed  from  morning  till 
night  in  discounting  notes  and  handing  out  specie. 

On  Thursday,  considerabh'  more  than  seven  thousand  couples 
living  out  of  wedlock,  were  legally  married  in  the  face  of  several 
congregations ;  and  to  crown  the  whole,  Sir  Gilbert  Hathcote,  at 
that  time  being  director  of  the  bank,  issued  orders  to  all  the  fire 
offices  in  London,  requiring  them  to  keep  a  good  lookout,  and 
have  a  particular  eye  over  the  Bank  of  England. 


Justice  Applauded. 

134.  AVhitefield  was  present  at  the  Old  Baile}-,  at  one  time, 
when  sentence  was  passed  on  a  notorious  criminal.  The  applause 
of  the  people  at  the  vindication  of  justice  was,  he  said,  "an  em- 
blem of  that  awful  da}'  when  all  the  saints  and  angels  of  God 
shall  say,  '  Amen.'  " 


Will  Father  be  a  Goat  Then? 

135.  A  converted  drunkard  tells  the  following  incident:  "I 
had  been  all  day  in  the  public  house,  and  at  night  when  I  came 
home,  my  wife  was  reading  a  chapter  to  the  children,  as  usual. 
When  she  was  so  engaged,  I  went  slipping  in  like  a  condemned 
criminal  The  portion  of  Scripture  read  was  the  twent^'-fifth 
chapter  of  Matthew,  in  which  these  words  occur:  'When  the  Son 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTEiS. 


67 


of  man  shall  come  in  his  glor^^,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him, 
then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his  glory:  and  before  him 
shall  be  gathered  all  nations :  and  he  shall  separate  them  one  from 
another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the  gocits :  and  he 
shall  set  the  sheep  on  his  right  hand,  but  the  goats  on  the  left. ' 
Our  youngest  boy,  then  about  four  years  old,  was  lying  with  his 
head  on  his  mother's  lap,  and  just  when  she  had  read  those  awful 
words,  he  looked  up  earnesth'  in  her  face,  and  asked,  '  Will  father 
be  a  goat  then,  mother  ? '  This  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted.  I 
spent  a  sleepless,  awfulh'  miserable  night,  wishing  rather  to  die 
than  live  such  a  life.  I  was  now  decided,  and  all  the  men  on 
earth  could  not  tempt  me  to  drink  again.  This  affedling  incident 
became,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the  turning  point  in  my  life." 


Con  VERSION  Through  a  Dream. 

X36.  A  sailor,  who  had  passed  unhurt  through  an  explosion 
in  which  most  of  his  shipmates  had  lost  their  lives,  but  who  had 
not  been  impressed  by  his  mar\'elous  escape,  and  had  gone  on  in 
his  life  of  sin,  was  startled  by  a  strange  dream  which  he  had  some 
time  after.  He  thought  he  saw  that  the  Da}'  of  Judgment  had 
come.  He  saw  the  Judge  seated  at  a  table  with  a  desk  before 
him.  On  one  side  of  him  was  Satan  standing  before  a  door;  and 
on  the  other  side  was  a  bright  angel  standing  also  before  another 
door.  John  knew,  in  his  dream,  that  Satan's  door  was  the  door 
into  hell,  and  the  angel's  the  door  into  heaven.    The  trial  of  the 

crew  of  the  exploded  frigate  A  commenced.    Each  name  was 

called  in  the  order  in  which  it  stood  on  the  ship's  books,  and  in 
every  instance  the  person  after  judgment  was  handed  over  to 
Satan,  who  opened  the  door  at  his  back,  thrust  in  the  condemned 
man,  closed  the  door  upon  him,  and  John  saw  him  no  more.  The 
process  went  on  until  the  Judge  came  to  the  name  which  stood 
before  John's  on  the  books.  John  now  expedted  to  be  called,  but 
his  name  was  passed  over,  and  the  one  which  stood  next  after  his 
was  called.  The  trial  was  at  length  completed,  every  one  of  the 
crew  had  been  shut  up  in  hell,  and  John  was  left  standing  alone. 
Unable  to  bear  this  terrible  suspense  any  longer,  he  walked  up  to 
the  Judge  and  said,  '  *  Am  I  wanted  yet  ? ' '  Whereupon  the  Judge, 
gazing  upon  the  inquirer  with  a  look  which  thrilled  his  inmost 
vsoul,  replied,  "No,  not  now;  but  repent,  or  yon  will  soon  be 
here. ' '  The  horror  with  which  the  awful  tones  of  that  voice  filled 
John,  awoke  him.  Convidlion  seized  upon  him,  and  he  soon 
found  peace  in  believing  in  Christ. 


68 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


{d.)  Providence. 


Garfield's  Conversion. 

137,  Garfield,  our  late  President,  was  addressing  an  audience 
of  young  people,  several  3-ears  ago,  selecting,  as  his  text,  Ecclesi- 
astes  9:  10  and  11:  6:  "  Whatsoever  thy  hand  Jindeth  to  do,  do  it 
with  thy  might. ' '  '  'In  the  morning  soiv  thy  seed,  and  i7i  the  evening 
ivithhold  7iot  thine  ha7id :  for  thou  knowest  not  whether  shall  pros- 
per, either  this  or  that,  or  whether  they  both  shall  be  alike  good.'' 

"Make  the  most,"  he  said  in  substance,  "of  the  present  mo- 
ment !  Xo  occasion  is  unworth}"  of  3-our  best  efforts.  God  in  his 
providence  often  uses  humble  occasions  and  little  things  to  shape 
the  whole  course  of  a  man's  life.  I  might  sa}'  that  the  wearing 
of  a  certain  pair  of  stockings  led  to  a  complete  change  in  m}^  own 
career.  I  had  made  one  trip  as  a  bo^'  on  a  canal-boat,  and  was 
expecting  to  leave  home  for  another  trip.  But  I  accidentally  in- 
jured volJ  foot  in  chopping  wood.  The  blue  d^-e  in  the  3'arn  of 
my  home-made  socks  poisoned  the  wound,  and  I  was  kept  at 
home.  Then  a  revival  of  religion  broke  out  in  the  neighborhood. 
I  was  thus  kept  within  its  influence,  and  was  converted.  Xew 
desires  and  new  purposes  then  took  possession  of  me,  and  I  de- 
termined to  seek  an  education,  that  I  might  live  more  usefuU}" 
for  Christ." 

Thus  God  prepared  both  Garfield's  opportunity  and  himself — 
and  brought  them  together. 


A  Merciful  Providence. 

138.    "O,  Tom,  3'ou  are  alwaj-s  talking  about  religion  and 

Providence,"  said  a  careless  sailor  to  his  pious  brother,  who  was 
giving  him  some  good  advice  for  his  next  voyage.  ' '  I  suppose 
if  I  should  be  wrecked,  and  a  ship  were  to  heave  in  sight  and  take 
me  off",  you'd  call  it  a  merciful  providence.  That's  all  an  old  no- 
tion. These  things  happen  just  as  other  things  happen, — b}^ 
mere  chance. ' ' 

The  sailor  went  to  sea,  and  during  his  voj'age  his  supposed 
adventure  was  realized  exacll^'  as  he  had  described.  He  was 
wrecked  on  the  ocean,  and  he  and  his  fellow-sailors  drifted  three 
da\'S  on  the  hulk  of  their  dismantled  vessel,  until  a  ship  ap- 
peared and  saw  their  signal  of  distress  flying,  and  came  and  took 
them  off. 

"Ah,  Tom,"  said  he  to  his  brother,  when  he  got  safe  home 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTKS. 


69 


again,  "when  that  ship  hove  in  sight,  the  words  I  said  to  you 
came  back  to  me  like  a  clap  of  thunder.  I  had  to  own  that  God's 
hand  was  in  the  matter  of  saving  my  life  there  on  the  sea,  and 
now,  to  do  the  fair  thing  by  him,  I'm  going  to  serve  him  the  rest 
of  my  days." 


A  Message  Written  in  B1.00D. 

139*  A  Liverpool  merchant's  cashier,  while  holding  a  bank- 
note up  to  the  light,  to  test  its  genuineness,  noticed  some  faint 
red  marks  upon  it  which,  on  closer  examination,  proved  to  be 
semi-effaced  words,  scrawled  in  blood  between  the  printed  lines, 
and  upon  the  blank  margin  of  the  note.  Extraordinary  pains 
were  taken  to  decipher  these  partly  obliterated  charadters,  and 
eventually  the  following  sentence  was  made  out :  "If  this  note 
should  fall  into  the  hands  of  John  Dean,  of  Longhill,  near  Car- 
lisle, he  will  learn  hereby  that  his  brother  is  languishing  a  pris- 
oner in  Algiers."  Mr.  Dean  was  promptly  communicated  with 
by  the  holder  of  the  note,  and  he  appealed  to  the  government 
of  the  day  for  assistance  in  his  endeavor  to  obtain  his  brother's 
release  from  captivity.  The  prisoner,  who,  as  it  subsequently 
appeared,  had  traced  the  above  sentence  upon  the  note  with  a 
splinter  of  wood  dipped  in  his  own  blood,  had  been  a  slave  to  the 
Dey  of  Algiers  for  eleven  years,  when  his  strange  missive  first 
attracfted  attention  in  a  Liverpool  counting-house.  His  family 
and  friends  had  long  believed  him  dead.  Eventually  his  brother, 
with  the  aid  of  the  British  authorities  in  the  Mediterranean,  suc- 
ceeded in  ransoming  him  from  the  Dey,  and  brought  him  home 
to  England. 

What  eye  but  God's  can  read  the  blood-marks  of  the  sorrow 
of  His  martyrs,  shut  up  from  human  aid,  and  held  down  under 
the  heel  of  the  wicked  ? 


The  Value  oe  One  Tract. 

140.  The  Advertiser,  Leamington,  England,  publishes  the 
following:  "Some  fifteen  years  ago,  a  young  man,  a  Spaniard  by 
l)irth,  visited  Leamington,  from  New  York,  and  received  a  tra(5l  in 
the  pump-rooms,  which  was  given  to  him  casually  by  a  lady.  It 
was  one  of  Canon  Ryle's  traces,  and  it  was  the  means  of  his  con- 
version. On  returning  to  America,  where  his  parents  had  taken 
up  their  residence,  he  entered  one  of  the  universities,  and,  having 
been  ordained  by  Bishop  Potter,  was  appointed  missionary  to  the 
Spanish-speaking  people  in  New  York.  From  thence  he  went  to 
Mexico,  some  ten  years  ago,  and  was  presented  by  the  Emperor 


70 


THB  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


Maximilian's  successor  with  one  of  the  principal  churches  in  the 
capital.  He  translated  the  whole  of  Canon  Ryle's  tradl  into 
Spanish,  and  the  result  was  that  there  are  now  one  hundred  and 
sixty  Protestant  congregations  in  ^Mexico,  whereas  nine  3'ears  ago 
there  was  but  one,  and  sixty-three  thousand  people  have  seceded 
from  the  Church  of  Rome.  This  was  the  result  of  one  tracft  casu- 
ally given  to  a  visitor  in  the  pump-rooms  at  Leamington."  The 
title  of  th-e  tracl  is,  it  is  said,  "Are  You  Forgiven  ?" 


(eJ)  Love. 


He  Who  is  Love. 

141.  Jacobus  de  Benediclis,  a  lay  brother  of  the  Franciscan 
order,  and  author  of  the  famous  hymn,  "  Stabat  mater  dolorosa," 
who  lived  at  the  close  of  the  thirteenth  centurs',  was  once  found 
in  tears.  Asked  the  cause  of  his  grief,  he  replied,  ' '  Because  He 
who  is  Love  is  not  loved. ' ' 


Large  Light. 

142.  ' '  Do  3-our  gods  love  3-ou  ? ' '  asked  a  missionary-  of  some 
Indians.  ' '  The  gods  never  think  of  loving, ' '  was  the  cheerless 
answer.  Then  the  missionary-  repeated  the  verse,  ' '  For  God  so 
loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only-  begotten  Son,  that  whoso- 
ever believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life."  "Say-  that  again,"  said  the  Indian;  "that  is  large  light; 
say  it  again."  ^Vhen  the  missionaiy  repeated  the  verse,  he  said 
very-  earnestly,  "That  is  true;  I  feel  it." 


The  :Mystery  of  God's  Love. 

143.  A  gentleman  who  thought  Christianity^  was  merely^  a 
heap  of  puzzling  problems,  said  to  an  old  minister,  ' '  That  is  a 
very  strange  verse  in  the  ninth  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans,  'Jacob  have  I  loved,  but  Esau  have  I  hated.'  " 

"Very-  strange,"  replied  the  minister;  "but  what  is  it,  sir,  that 
you  see  most  strange  about  it  ?  " 

"O,  that  part,  of  course,"  said  the  gentleman,  patronizingly. 


REVIVAI,  ANE:CDOTe:S. 


71 


and  with  an  air  of  surprise,  '"Esau  have  I  hated,'  is  certainly 
very  strange." 

"Well,  sir,"  said  the  old  minister,  "how  wonderfully  are  we 
made,  and  how  differently  constituted.  The  strangest  part  of  all 
to  me  is  that  he  could  ever  have  loved  Jacob." 

There  is  no  mystery  so  glorious  as  the  mystery  of  God's  love. 


God's  Readiness  to  Forgive. 

144.  An  old  man  and  his  wife  in  Flintshire  were  much  an- 
noyed by  their  neighbor's  cattle  going  over  their  fences  into  their 
wheat  and  grass,  and  thus  causing  great  loss  to  the  poor  old  peo- 
ple. David,  the  old  man,  got  impatient  at  last,  and  one  day,  en- 
tering the  house,  he  said  to  his  wife:  "  Our  neighbor's  cattle  have 
been  again  in  our  wheat.  I'll  make  him  pay  the  damage  this 
time."  "Don't  talk  about  paying,  David.  'I  will  repay,  saith 
the  lyord.'"  "No,  indeed,  he  won't,"  said  David;  "he  is  too 
ready  to  forgive — a  great  deal — to  do  that." 


Going  to  Receive  Mercy. 

145.  When  Thomas  Hooker  lay  dying,  a  friend  said  to  him, 
' '  Brother,  you  are  now  going  to  receive  the  reward  of  your  la- 
bors. "    "I  am  going  to  receive  mercy, ' '  was  the  whispered  reply. 


Forgiveness. 

146.  One  of  the  captive  followers  of  the  Duke  of  Monmouth 
was  brought  before  James  the  Second.  * '  You  know  it  is  in  my 
power,"  said  the  king,  "to  pardon  you.'"  "Yes,"  said  the  man, 
who  well  knew  his  cruel  chara(5ler ;  ' '  but  it  is  not  in  your  nature. ' ' 
However  unwise  this  answer  was,  its  truth  was  soon  seen.  Quite 
a  contrast  is  presented  by  the  case  of  a  hardened  criminal,  who 
was  executed  in  the  town  of  Ayr,  in  Scotland.  It  pleased  the 
Ivord  to  bring  him  to  repentance  when  in  prison,  and  so  full  was 
his  assurance  of  pardoning  mercy  that,  when  he  came  to  the  place 
of  execution,  he  could  not  help  crying  out  to  the  people,  under 
the  sense  of  pardon  :  "Oh,  he  is  a  great  Forgiver !  He  is  a  great 
Forgiver ! ' '  and  he  added :  ' '  Now  hath  perfect  love  cast  out  fear. 
I  know  God  hath  nothing  to  say  against  me,  for  Jesus  Christ 
hath  paid  all;  and  those  are  truly  free  whom  the  Son  makes  free," 


72 


THK  GOSPEI/  worker's  TREASURY. 


He  Gave  His  Son. 

147,  The  keeper  of  a  draw-bridge  one  day  found,  after  allow- 
ing a  great  ship  to  pass,  that  he  had  barely  time  to  swing  the 
bridge  around  in  time  for  a  limited  express  that  was  about  due. 
The  smoke  of  the  coming  train  was  already  visible,  and  he  was 
bending  every  energy  to  his  task,  when,  looking  down  to  the 
stream  below,  he  saw  that  his  little  boy  had  fallen  in,  and  was 
drowning.  If  he  left  his  task  to  save  the  life  of  his  child,  the 
coming  express  would  be  wrecked,  and  scores,  if  not  hundreds, 
of  lives  would  be  lost ;  if  he  saved  the  train,  his  son  must  perish. 
He  closed  his  eyes  to  his  drowning  boy,  ran  around  with  the 
lever  that  swung  the  bridge,  and  succeeded  in  getting  the  bridge 
in  position  just  as  the  express  dashed  by ;  but  his  little  boy  was 
taken  from  the  river  a  corpse.  He  had  given  his  son  for  the  train 
and  its  passengers. 


"To  Kiss  His  Feet." 

148.  "A  converted  native,  employed  as  my  assistant  in  trans- 
lating the  Scriptures,  came  to  the  words  in  the  second  verse  of  the 
third  chapter  of  I.  John,  'Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God.'  He  ran 
to  me  in  great  haste,  exclaiming,  '  No,  no,  that  is  too  much ;  let 
me  render  it,     Now  we  are  permitted  to  kiss  his  feet."  '  " 


Aeeliction  a  Tender  Mercy. 

149.  Rev.  John  Newton  had  long  been  anxious  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  a  prosperous  man  in  his  parish,  who,  with 
his  wife,  seemed  to  have  become  wholly  devoted  to  worldly  good. 
He  called  upon  him  at  last,  and  made  known  his  concern,  when 
the  man  burst  into  tears,  and  summoned  his  wife  into  the  room, 
and  then  they  told  him  that  one  of  their  children,  just  then  away 
from  home,  was  reported  to  be  in  a  dying  condition,  and  they 
were  preparing  to  go  and  see  him.  ' '  God  be  merciful  in  laying 
his  hand  upon  your  child!"  prayed  Mr.  Newton,  "but  God  be 
thanked  that  he  has  not  forsaken  you  ! ' ' 


Why  God  Chastises. 

150.  On  one  occasion,  a  father  found  it  necessary  to  punish 
his  little  daughter.  But  Mary  climbed  up  into  his  lap,  and  said, 
"Papa,  I  do  love  you." 


REJVIVAlv  ANECDOTES. 


73 


Why  do  you  love  me,  my  child  ?" 

"Because  you  try  to  make  me  good,  Papa." 

It  is  in  this  spirit  that  God's  people  should  accept  the  chastise- 
ment he  sends,  remembering  it  is  in  love  he  rebukes  and  chastens; 
not  for  his  pleasure,  but  for  their  profit,  that  they  may  be  par- 
takers of  his  holiness. 


A  Chastising  lyOVE. 

151.  Rev.  J.  R.  Chambers  writes  of  a  community  in  which 
religious  interest  had  ebbed  almost  entirely  away.  All  efforts  to 
improve  the  condition  of  things  were  vain,  and  they  went  from 
bad  to  worse.  Suddenly  the  neighborhood  was  scourged  by  a 
dreadful  disease,  which  swept  many  into  the  grave.  Among  the 
families  attacked  was  one  in  which  the  parents  were  Christians, 
but  only  one  of  the  nine  children,  all  of  whom  had  reached  ma- 
turity, had  as  yet  made  a  profession.  It  was  this  daughter  that 
was  fatally  attacked.  Her  peaceful  death  made  a  deep  impression 
upon  the  minds  of  her  surviving  brothers  and  sisters,  and  before 
she  was  buried,  six  of  them  were  under  deep  conviction,  and  were 
speedily  converted.  The  interest  spread  into  the  community,  a 
revival  broke  out,  and  more  than  fifty  were  converted  to  God. 


Unseen  Danger. 

152.  Two  dear  friends  were  once  employed  to  fresco  the  walls 
of  a  grand  cathedral.  It  happened  on  a  certain  day  that  one  of 
these  artists  was  very  much  interested  in  looking  at  his  work. 
He  would  stand  near,  and  then  he  would  move  a  little  distance 
away.  Step  by  step  he  got  further  from  the  pi(5lure,  and  near  the 
edge  of  the  high  scaffolding  on  which  he  stood  to  work. 

All  at  once,  his  friend  saw  his  danger ;  another  step  back,  and 
he  would  have  been  over  the  edge !  What  should  he  do  ?  Quick 
as  thought,  the  friend  seized  a  wet  brush  and  threw  it  against  the 
wall,  spattering  the  very  pi(5lure  that  had  cost  the  other  so  much 
work  and  time!  What  could  he  mean?  His  friend  sprang  for- 
ward in  a  great  rage,  and  began  to  cry  out,  in  bitter  words,  against 
such  a  cruel  deed. 

"There  was  no  other  way  to  save  you,"  said  the  artist.  "Look 
behind  you !    See  how  near  you  were  to  death." 
/  When  the  man  saw  his  peril,  he  fell  upon  his  friend's  neck, 

•  blessing  him  for  what  a  moment  before  seemed  such  an  unkind 
adl.    This  is  just  a  little  like  the  way  in  which  our  Heavenly 


74 


THB  GOSPEIy  worker's  treasury. 


Father  often  treats  his  children.  He  sees  that  sometimes  they 
are  so  much  pleased  with  earthly  things  that  they  cannot  see  the 
dangers  near  at  hand.  The  only  way  to  save  them  is  by  spoiling" 
the  pidlures  and  images  that  look  so  beautiful. 


2.  CHRIST, 


(l.)    LIFE  AND  CHARACTER. 


CouivD  A  Myth  do  That? 

153*  Some  little  time  since,  a  woman  delivered  a  lecture  in 
I^ancashire,  England,  against  Christianity,  in  which  she  declared 
that  the  gospel  narrative  of  the  life  of  Christ  was  a  myth.  One 
of  the  mill  hands  who  listened  to  her  obtained  leave  to  ask  a 
question.  "The  question,"  said  he,  "I  want  to  ask  the  lady,  is 
this :  Thirty  years  ago  I  was  a  curse  to  this  town,  and  everybody 
shrank  from  me  that  had  any  respe(5l  for  himself.  I  often  tried  to 
do  better,  but  could  not  succeed ;  the  teetotalers  got  hold  of  me, 
but  I  broke  the  pledge  so  often  that  they  said  it  was  no  use  try- 
ing me  any  longer ;  then  the  police  got  hold  of  me,  and  I  was 
taken  before  the  magistrates,  and  they  tried ;  and  next  I  was  sent 
to  prison,  and  the  wardens  tried  what  they  could  do;  and  though 
they  all  tried,  I  was  nothing  better,  but  rather  worse.  Now,  you 
say  that  Christ  is  a  myth.  But  w^hen  I  tried,  and  the  teetotalers, 
the  police,  the  magistrates,  and  the  wardens  of  the  prison  all  tried 
in  vain,  then  Christ  took  hold  of  me,  touched  my  heart,  and  made 
me  a  new  man.  And  now  I  am  a  member  of  the  church,  a  class- 
leader,  and  a  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  and  I  ask,  if 
Christ  is  a  myth,  how  comes  it  to  pass  that  that  myth  is  stronger 
than  all  the  others  put  together  ? ' '  The  lady  was  silent.  ' '  Nay, 
Miss,"  said  he,  "say  what  you  will,  the  gospel  is  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation." 


Just  IvIkb  Him. 

X54.  A  minister,  conversing  with  a  pious  old  Negro  woman 
on  the  love  of  Christ  in  bearing  our  sins,  at  length  exclaimed 
fervently,  ' '  Isn't  it  wonderful.  Aunty  ? ' ' 

Old  Mary  considered  an  instant.  "No,  sir,"  she  said,  "I  don*- 
fink  it's  so  very  wonderful.    If  s  just  like  him.'''' 


REvivAiv  ankcdote;s. 


75 


A  Word  of  Powe:r. 

155.  A  Russian  soldier  lay  wounded  on  an  Kastem  battle- 
field. He  lifted  up  his  voice  in  an  agonizing  cry  for  ' '  water. '  * 
An  Knglisli  cavalryman  passed  him,  not  understanding'  his  cry. 
In  despair,  the  man  cried  out,  Christosy  The  Englishman 
leaped  from  his  horse,  and  ministered  to  the  sufferer.  This  was 
the  one  word  they  had  in  common.  It  was  a  word  of  sympathy 
and  power.    It  was  a  word  that  saved. 


Three;  Rki^igions  Contrasted. 

The  superiority  of  the  gospel  over  other  systems  is  finely 
illustrated  in  a  little  sermon  which  a  converted  Chinaman  once 
preached.    The  sermon  was  this : 

"A  man  had  fallen  into  a  deep  pit,  and  lay  groaning  in  the 
miry  bottom,  utterly  unable  to  move.  Confucius  passed  that 
way,  and  looking  over  into  the  pit,  said:  'Poor  fellow!  I  am  very 
sorry  for  you.  Why  were  you  such  a  fool  as  to  get  in  there  ?  Let 
me  give  you  a  piece  of  advice :  If  you  ever  get  out,  be  careful  you 
don't  get  in  again.'    And  that  was  all  he  could  say  for  him. 

"Next  came  the  Buddhist  priest,  and  looking  down  at  him, 
said :  '  Poor  fellow !  I  am  pained  to  find  you  in  such  a  condition. 
I  think  if  you  could  scramble  up  two  thirds  of  the  way,  or  even 
half,  I  might  reach  down  and  help  you  out.'  But  the  man  was 
utterly  unable  to  move. 

"Last  of  all  the  Savior  came  by,  and  hearing  his  cries,  went  to 
the  edge  of  the  pit  and  reached  entirely  down  to  the  bottom,  and 
lifted  him  up,  and  set  him  on  his  feet,  and  said,  '  Go,  and  sin  no 
more. ' ' ' 


President  Lincoi^n's  Man. 

157,  Of  President  Lincoln,  at  the  Gettysburg  dedication,  a 
correspondent  of  the  Cincinnati  Commercial  gives  this  interesting 
reminiscence.  An  address  was  given  in  the  evening  by  Mr. 
Charles  Anderson,  and  in  a  church.  The  audience  had  assem- 
bled, and  arose  as  the  President  entered.  An  old  man,  shabbily 
dressed,  followed  him  up  the  aisle,  and  when  reaching  the  seat 
reserved  for  Lincoln,  was  about  going  in  with  him.  Governor 
Tod,  who  escorted  the  President,  put  his  hand  on  him,  and  said, 
"No,  old  man,  you  can't  go  in  there."  Mr.  Lincoln  turned,  and 
said,  "Yes,  Governor,  that's  my  man,"  and,  putting  his  arm 
around  the  old  man,  brought  him  into  the  pew.    It  was  the  man 


76 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


who  entered  the  battle  of  Gettj'sburg  with  his  musket  and  fought 
independently  all  day. 

So,  in  the  great  assembly  of  the  Judgment  will  Jesus  speak  for 
every  one  who  has  fought  or  served  or  suffered  for  him  here: 
' '  This  is  my  man. ' ' 


Wearing  Another's  Chains. 

158.  Eighty  3^ears  ago  a  fierce  war  raged  in  India,  between 
the  English  and  Tippoo  Sahib.  On  one  occasion,  several  English 
ofiicers  were  taken  prisoners ;  among  them  was  one  named  Baird. 
One  day  a  native  officer  brought  in  fetters  to  put  upon  each  of  the 
prisoners,  the  wounded  not  excepted.  Baird  had  been  severely 
wounded,  and  was  suffering  from  pain  and  weakness. 

A  gra^'-haired  officer  said  to  the  native  official :  ' '  You  do  not 
think  of  putting  chains  upon  that  wounded  man!" 

"There  are  just  as  many  pairs  of  fetters  as  there  are  captives," 
was  the  answer,  "and  ever>^  pair  must  be  worn." 

' '  Then, ' '  said  the  noble  officer,  ' '  put  two  pairs  on  me !  I  will 
wear  his  as  well  as  my  own."  This  was  done.  Strange  to  say, 
Baird  lived  to  regain  his  freedom — lived  to  take  that  city;  but 
his  noble  friend  died  in  prison.  Up  to  his  death  he  wore  two 
pairs  of  fetters ! 

But  what  if  he  had  worn  the  fetters  of  all  in  the  prison? 
What  if,  instead  of  being  a  captive  himself,  he  had  quitted  a 
glorious  palace  to  live  in  their  loathsome  dungeon,  to  wear  their 
chains,  to  bear  their  stripes,  to  suffer  and  die  for  them,  that  they 
might  go  free,  and  free  forever ! 


A  Savior  and  Keeper. 

159.  When  the  excursion  boat  Princess  Alice,  crowded  with 
poor  people  just  out  for  a  pleasure-day,  went  down  in  the 
frightful  collision  on  the  Thames  a  few  3-ears  ago,  a  3'oung  work- 
ing lad  of  Woolwich  was  on  the  river  bank,  and,  being  a  good 
swimmer,  at  once  dashed  into  the  river  and  brought  out  the 
struggler  next  to  him.  He  immediatel}^  plunged  in  again,  and 
rescued  a  second,  to  rush  in  again  and  return  with  a  third.  As 
he  was  making  his  way  thus  to  the  bank,  he  saw  a  small  bundle, 
which  he  guessed  must  be  a  hahj.  He  caught  it  with  his  teeth, 
and  thus  brought  the  fourth  rescued  life  to  shore.  Not  then  able 
to  swim  in  again,  he  carried  the  baby  home  to  his  mother's  hum- 
ble dwelling,  and  placing  the  little  orphan  in  her  arms,  said. 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


77 


''Here,  Mother,  nurse  this  baby  for  me;  I  will  work  for  it  as  long- 
as  I  live, ' ' 

Is  not  this  an  illustration  of  the  grace  of  Christ  ?  He  finds  the 
sinner  perishing,  rescues  him,  and  commits  him  to  the  guardian- 
ship of  his  Church,  saying,  "Take  care  ot  him  till  I  come." 


RoYAi.  Intercession. 

l6o.  In  15 1 7,  there  was  a  great  riot  in  London,  in  which 
houses  were  sacked  and  general  insurredlion  ruled  throughout 
the  city.  The  guns  of  the  Tower  thundered  against  the  insur- 
gents, and  armed  bands  assailed  them  on  every  side.  Three 
hundred  were  arrested,  tried,  and  hanged.  Nearly  five  hundred 
persons  were  put  into  prison,  and  on  a  given  day  were  brought 
before  the  King,  Henry  VIII.,  for  judgment.  As  he  sat  in  state 
in  Westminster  Hall,  the  doors  were  opened,  and  in  marched  this 
great  army  of  culprits,  under  strong  guard,  every  one  w4th  a  rope 
around  his  neck,  ready  for  the  hanging  if  the  verdicfl  went  against 
them.  But  before  the  grim  sentence  was  rendered,  lo!  three 
queens,  Catherine  of  Aragon,  wife  of  the  King,  Margaret  of 
Scotland,  sister  of  the  King,  and  j\Iary  of  France,  approached  the 
throne  with  their  attendants,  kneeled  at  the  feet  of  his  majesty, 
and  there,  for  a  long  time,  they  pleaded  for  the  lives  of  these 
people.  At  last  the  King  relented,  and  forgave  them,  because  of 
this  royal  intercession.  Behold,  a  greater  than  these  has  inter- 
ceded for  us,  and  saved  us  ! 


Mighty  to  Save. 

161.  William  the  Conqueror  built  a  great  abbey,  called  Bat- 
tle Abbey,  on  the  spot  where  he  overcame  the  Saxon  Harold  in 
the  battle  of  Hastings,  and  granted  it  some  extraordinary  privi- 
leges. The  abbot  had  the  right  to  pardon  a  criminal,  no  matter 
what  his  offense  or  where  he  found  him,  even  if  the  halter  were 
around  his  neck.  One  word  was  sufficient  to  set  the  prisoner 
free.  Even  so,  no  matter  where  Christ  finds  a  prisoner  of  sin, 
one  word  is  enough  to  set  him  at  liberty. 


Neglecting  the  Star. 

162.  A  Minnesota  farmer,  returning  homeward  from  a  distant 
market  town  one  day  in  the  winter  time,  lost  his  way  on  the 
prairie.    Night  came  down  upon  him  while  he  fruitlessly  wan- 


78 


the:  gospe)!.  worker's  treasury. 


dered,  and  weary  with  anxiet}^  and  numb  with  cold,  he  was  al- 
most in  despair,  when  suddenly  his  horses  struck  into  the  track 
of  another  sleigh.  "Now,"  thought  the  farmer,  "I  am  safe." 
He  listened,  and  far  ahead,  to  his  great  jo}',  he  caught  the  sound 
of  sleigh-bells.  "I  will  follow  this  man,"  he  said,  "and  he  will 
take  me  home." 

He  pushed  on,  and  the  farther  he  went  the  more  beaten  the 
track  became.  He  was  certainly  on  the  traveled  road — but  why 
did  he  not  reach  his  house  ?  Mile  after  mile  he  urged  his  tired 
and  chilled  horses,  but  still  he  saw  nothing  but  the  same  drear}' 
wajste  of  prairie.  He  began  to  think  his  brain  was  turning.  *In 
an  agony,  he  increased  his  speed  to  overtake  the  man  before  him. 

"Where  are  you  going ?"  he  shouted. 

"I  am  following  you,'"  the  answer  came  back. 

Both  drivers  were  lost,  and  they  had  been  following  each  other's 
track  in  a  circle.  The  two  men  held  a  consultation,  and  then  for 
the  first  time  they  thought  to  look  at  the  sky.  There  shone  the 
North  Star — had  been  shining  there  all  the  time — and  north  was 
the  way  they  wished  to  go.  Thej^  started,  led  by  the  heavenly 
lamp,  and  soon  reached  their  homes. 


"I  Don't  Care." 

163.  One  day,  a  lady  with  whom  the  Rev.  Frederick  Robert- 
son was  slightly  acquainted,  assailed  him  for  "heterodox  opin- 
ions," and  menaced  him  with  the  consequence  which,  in  this 
world  and  the  next,  would  follow  on  the  course  of  adlion  he  was 
pursuing.  His  only  answer  was,  "I  don't  care."  "Do  you 
know  what  'don't  care'  came  to,  sir?"  "Yes,  madam,"  was  the 
grave  reply.    * '  He  was  crucified  on  Calvar3\ ' ' 


(2.)    DEATH  AND  ATONEMENT. 


"It  Makes  me  Cry." 

i:64.  A  little  boy  who  was  brightly  converted  at  the  age  of  five, 
under  a  talk  to  children  on  the  crucifixion,  expressed  an  unusual 
unwillingness  to  attend  the  Sunday-school  the  following  Lord's 
day.  To  an  expression  of  surprise,  he  replied:  "I  don't  want  to 
go  next  Sunday,  because  the  lesson  is  about  the  death  of  Jesus, 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTe:S. 


79 


and  I  can't  stand  to  hear  it.  It  makes  me  cry  so."  And  even  as 
he  spoke,  the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks.  At  another  time,  he 
said,  that  when  he  did  not  feel  like  praying,  all  he  needed  to  do 
was  to  think  how  Jesus  died  for  him,  and  then  he  could  not  help 
praying. 


"Father,  Thky  Crucified  Him!" 

165.  A  father  who  was  a  professed  infidel,  observed  his  little 
son  intently  reading  the  Bible. 

'  *  What  book  are  you  reading  ?  "  he  said,  sternly. 

The  boy  looked  up  abstra(5ledly,  and  said,  with  eyes  swimming 
in  tears,  "  Father,  they  crucified  Him ! " 

The  professed  unbeliever  stood  still.  It  was  a  word  in  season. 
Godt  had  spoken  to  him  through  the  lips  of  his  child.  Ere  long 
the  scales  fell  from  his  e3^es.  His  soul  was  prostrate  at  the  foot 
of  the  Cross,  seeking  peace  and  pardon  from  the  Savior  he  had 
rejedled.  And  now  he  is  among  those  who  testify  to  the  truth  of 
Christ's  religion — to  his  promise,  "Him  that  cometh  to  me  I 
will  in  no  wise  cast  out." 


Died  for  the  Peopee. 

166.  When  Edward  HI.  captured  Calais,  he  signified  to  the 
conquered  people  that  he  considered  them  all  worthy  of  death, 
but  that  if  they  would  deliver  up  to  him  six  of  their  principal 
citizens,  with  halters  round  their  necks,  for  execution,  he  would 
accept  their  death  as  atonement  for  the  rebellion  of  the  city.  The 
French  commander,  St.  Pierre,  offered  himself  as  the  first  sacri- 
fice, and  five  other  noblemen  soon  followed  his  example.  They 
were  led  out  to  the  English  camp  between  files  of  soldiers,  wear- 
ing the  fatal  ropes  round  their  necks  —  "ensigns  of  greater  dig- 
nity than  that  of  the  British  Garter." 


A  Just,  yet  Mercifue  Judge. 

167.  A  spendthrift  who  had  wasted  a  handsome  fortune  by  a 
prodigal  life,  and  involved  himself  a  hundred  thousand  pounds 
in^  debt,  was  arraigned  by  his  creditors  and  condemned  (by  En- 
glish law)  to  finish  his  days  in  prison.  The  judge  before  whom 
he  was  tried,  recognized  in  him  an  intimate  friend  of  his  youth, 
but  the  prisoner  did  not  know  the  judge — nor  did  that  magistrate 
betray  any  softening  sign,  or  relax  at  all  his  official  sternness. 


80 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


The  unhappy  debtor  pleaded  bitterly  against  being  shut  up  for 
life,  and  complained  of  the  harshness  of  the  law.  But  he  was 
told  that  the  law  was  intended  to  prevent  just  such  offenses  as 
his.  Instead  of  being  unjust  to  him,  it  punished  him  for  being 
unjust  to  others.  "Unless  a  man  pays  his  debts,  he  must  go  to 
prison." 

He  appealed  to  the  mercy  of  the  court,  but  the  only  reply  was: 
'  *  I  am  solemnly  sworn  to  enforce  the  law,  and  I  have  no  choice. 
Your  debt  is  proven,  and  unless  a  man  pays  his  debts,  he  must 
go  to  prison. ' ' 

Then  he  begged  the  judge  to  consider  his  penitence,  telling 
him  how  heart-broken  he  was  over  the  wretched  folly  of  his  life. 
But  the  judge  reminded  him  that  his  sorrow  could  not  alter  the 
law.  It  had  always  stood  as  it  was,  and  he  should  have  heeded 
it  before.    "Unless  a  man  pays  his  debts,  he  must  go  to  prison." 

As  a  last  appeal,  the  poor  man  solemnly  promised  reformation, 
and  implored  that  he  might  be  released,  to  pass  the  rest  of  his 
da3'S  in  industry  and  sobriety.  Said  the  judge:  "Would  that 
pay  your  debts  ?  You  never  earned  anything,  and  you  are  now 
too  old  to  learn  how.  Your  only  means  you  have  thrown  away. 
No,  this  is  but  a  waste  of  time,  and  the  law  must  take  its  course. 
Unless  a  man  pays  his  debts,  he  must  go  to  prison.  Ofl&cer,  take 
charge  of  this  man."  And  handing  the  sheriff  a  folded  paper,  he 
saw  him  lead  the  prisoner  awa}^ 

The  wretched  debtor  now  bade  his  last  farewell  to  the  world. 
But  what  was  his  surprise  when,  instead  of  entering  a  gloomy 
jail,  he  found  himself  in  a  luxurious  mansion,  and  seated  in  the 
judge's  own  library!  What  was  his  astonishment  and  joy  when 
the  judge  revealed  himself  to  him,  recalled  the  former  days,  and 
told  him  he  was  free !  Ivoving  his  old  friend  still ,  the  magistrate 
had  determined  to  save  him,  and  satisfy  justice,  too;  and  being  a 
man  of  great  wealth,  he  had  paid  all  the  prisoner's  debts  himself. 


Saved  by  his  Death. 

l68.  The  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Thasus,  being  besieged 
by  the  Athenians,  made  a  law  that  whosoever  would  motion  a 
peace  to  be  concluded  with  the  enemy  should  die  the  death. 
Their  city  began  to  be  distressed,  and  the  people  to  perish  with 
the  sword  and  famine.  Hegetorides,  a  citizen,  pitying  the  estate 
of  his  country,  took  a  halter  about  his  neck,  came  to  the  judg- 
ment place,  and  spake:  "My  masters,  deal  with  me  as  ye  will ; 
but  in  any  case  make  peace  with  the  Athenians,  that  my  country 
may  be  saved  by  my  death." 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


81 


A  Father  Dying  for  His  Son. 

169.  A  father  and  son  were  being  drawn  up  one  of  the  deep 
coal-pits  of  England,  when  a  strange  crackling  attrac5led  their  at- 
tention. Several  of  the  strands  of  the  rope  were  parting,  and  in 
a  few  moments  more  it  was  likely  that  both  would  be  lying  at 
the  bottom  of  the  shaft,  mangled  and  dead.  Taking  the  situation 
in  at  a  glance,  the  Christian  father  cried  to  his  son,  "Be  sure  to 
meet  me  in  heaven,"  and  leaped  into  the  abyss  and  was  dashed 
to  pieces.  Relieved  of  the  father's  weight,  the  rope  was  able  to 
bear  the  weight,  and  the  son  was  drawn  up  in  safety.  The  price 
of  his  life  was  his  father's  death. 


The  Eloquent  Wound. 

170.  History  informs  us  of  two  brothers,  one  of  whom,  for 
capital  crimes,  was  condemned  to  die.  But  on  the  appearance  of 
the  other,  who  had  lost  an  arm  in  the  defense  of  his  country, 
there  was  a  stay  of  sentence ;  and  when  he  held  up  the  stump  of 
the  severed  member,  the  judges  were  so  alfedted  by  the  recollec- 
tion of  his  past  service  that  for  his  sake  they  relented,  and  par- 
doned the  guilty  brother. 

The  Redeemer,  presenting  himself  "  as  a  Eamb  that  was  slain," 
pleading  for  his  ;people  the  merits  of  his  strflerings  and  death, 
never  pleads  in  vain. 


Suffering  for  His  Son. 

IJI,  It  is  not  very  long  since  the  dying  confession  of  a  wicked 
young  man,  untimely  brought  to  his  end,  released  from  prison 
his  aged  father,  who  had  been  bearing  the  punishment  of  one  of 
his  crimes  for  twelve  years.  The  old  man,  to  shield  his  son,  had 
allowed  himself  to  be  convidled  and  condemned  as  the  real  crim- 
inal, and  with  a  generous  devotion,  of  which  his  ignoble  boy  was 
utterly  unworthy,  had  submitted  silently  to  be  made  the  scape- 
goat of  his  iniquities. 


A  Substitute. 

172.  A  Roman  servant,  knowing  that  his  master  was  sought 
for  to  be  put  to  death,  clothed  himself  in  his  master's  garments 
that  he  might  be  taken  for  him.  He  was  taken,  and  put  to  death 
in  his  stead;  in  memory  of  which,  his  master  caused  his  statue 

6 


82 


THE  GOSPEI.  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


in  brass  to  be  erecfled,  as  a  monument  of  gratitude  for  the  poor 
servant's  fidelity  and  affecftion.  What  monument,  then,  should 
Christians  ere(ft  for  Jesus  Christ,  who,  when  we  lay  condemned 
to  eternal  death,  descended  from  heaven,  and  died  to  effecft  our 
.salvation  ? 


She  Died  for  Him. 

173,  A  poor  emigrant  had  gone  to  Australia  to  ' '  make  his 
fortune, ' '  leaving  a  wife  and  little  son  in  England.  When  he  had 
made  some  money,  he  wrote  home  to  his  wife:  "Come  out  to  me 
here;  I  send  the  money  for  your  passage;  I  want  to  see  you  and 
my  boy. ' "  The  wife  took  ship  as  soon  as  she  could,  and  started 
for  her  new  home.  One  night,  as  the3^  were  all  asleep,  there 
sounded  the  dreaded  cry  of  ' '  Fire,  fire ! ' '  Every  one  rushed  on 
deck,  and  the  boats  were  soon  filled.  The  last  one  was  just  pushing 
off,  when  a  cry  of,  "There  are  two  more  on  deck,"  arose.  They 
were  the  mother  and  her  son.  Alas  !  "Only  room  for  one,"  the 
sailors  vShouted.  Which  should  go  ?  The  mother  thought  of  her 
far-away  home,  her  husband  looking  out  lovingly  and  longingly 
for  his  wife.  Then  she  glanced  down  at  the  boy,  clinging,  fright- 
ened, to  her  skirts.  She  could  not  let  him  die.  There  was  no 
time  to  lose.  Quick!  quick!  the  flames  were  getting  round. 
Snatching  the  child,  she  held  him  to  her  one  moment.  "Willie, 
tell  father  I  died  for  you ! ' '  Then  the  boy  was  lowered  into  the 
sailors'  willing  arms.    She  died  for  him. 


SeIvF-Sacrifice. 

174.  Two  bo3\s  were  at  play  inside  the  upper  part  of  St. 
Leonard's  Tower,  at  Bridgenorth,  when  the  beam  or  joist  on 
which  they  were  vStanding  gave  way.  One  of  them  had  just 
time  to  catch  hold  of  the  beam  and  suspend  himself  from  it, 
while  the  other,  slipping  over  his  body,  caught  hold  of  his  legs; 
and  thus  they  were  hung  for  some  time,  calling  for  help,  but  in 
vain.  At  length,  the  boy  who  clung  to  the  beam  said  he  could 
hold  out  no  longer;  upon  which  the  other,  who  was  clinging  to 
him,  said,  "Do  you  think  you  could  save  yourself  if  I  were  to 
loose  you?"  "  Yes,"  said  the  other;  "  I  think  I  could. "  "Well, 
then,"  said  he,  "God  bless  you!"  and  loOvSing  his  hold,  he  fell, 
and  was  dashed  to  pieces  on  the  stone  floor  below.  Upon  this  his 
companion  either  climbed  to  some  place  of  safety,  or  stayed  till 
some  one  came  to  his  help. 

Here  we  have  a  remarkable  instance  of  heroic  self-sacrifice — of 


RKVIVAIy  ANECDOTES. 


83 


devoted  affecflion;  a  beautiful  illustration  of  tlie  ways  of  One  well 
known  to  our  hearts.  Wondrous  was  the  love  of  this  dear  boy  to 
his  friend !  But  what  was  it  to  the  love  that  Christ  has  for  us ! 
What  to  the  love  that  led  him  to  Calvary,  there  to  give  his  life  a 
ransom  for  us,  to  suffer,  "the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might 
bring  us  to  God"  ! — that  wrung  from  him  that  cry  of  unparal- 
leled anguish,  *  'My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me?'' 


A  True  Hero. 

175,  The  city  of  Marseilles,  in  France,  was  once  afilic5led  with 
the  plague.  So  terrible  was  it,  that  it  caused  parents  to  desert 
children,  and  children  to  forget  the  obligations  to  their  own 
parents.  The  city  became  as  a  desert,  and  funerals  were  con- 
stantly passing  through  its  streets.  Everybody  was  sad,  for 
nobody  could  stop  the  ravages  of  the  plague.  The  physicians 
could  do  nothing,  and  as  they  met  one  day  to  talk  over  the  mat- 
ter, and  see  if  something  could  not  be  done  to  prevent  this  great 
destrucftion  of  life,  it  was  decided  that  nothing  could  be  effeAed 
without  opening  a  corpse,  in  order  to  discover  the  mysterious 
character  of  the  disease.  All  agreed  upon  the  plan;  but  who 
would  be  the  vicftim,  it  being  certain  that  he  would  die  soon 
after?  There  was  a  dead  pause.  Suddenly,  one  of  the  mOvSt  cele- 
brated physicians,  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  arose  from  his  seat 
and  said :  "  Be  it  so :  I  devote  myself  to  the  safety  of  my  country. 
Before  this  numerous  assembly,  I  swear,  in  the  name  of  human- 
ity and  religion,  that  to-morrow  at  the  break  of  day  I  will  dis- 
sec^t  a  corpse,  and  write  down,  as  I  proceed,  what  I  observe." 
He  immediately  left  the  room,  and,  as  he  was  rich,  he  made  a 
will,  and  spent  that  evening  in  religious  exercises.  During  the 
night  a  man  died  in  his  house  of  the  plague,  and  at  daybreak  the 
following  morning  the  physician,  whose  name  was  Guyon,  en- 
tered the  room  and  critically  made  the  examination.  He  then 
left  the  room,  threw  the  papers  into  a  vase  of  vinegar,  so  that 
they  might  not  convey  the  disease  to  another,  and  retired  to  a 
convenient  place,  where  he  died  in  twelve  hours. 


A  Savior  from  Death. 

176.  A  sick  young  man,  in  one  of  the  Dublin  cholera  hos- 
pitals, was  once  providentially  placed  in  a  peculiar  relation  to 
Father  Matthew.  Returning  after  a  short  visit  to  another  ward, 
the  good  priest  was  surprised  to  see  this  young  man's  cot  empty. 


84 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


He  had  just  died,  they  told  him,  and  his  body  was  in  the  dead- 
house. 

Father  Matthew  had  hoped  for  the  recovery  of  this  patient. 
He  could  not  believe  that  he  was  dead.  He  hurried  to  the  ghastly 
chamber  where  the  corpses  lay,  and  where  rough  men  were  busy 
rolling  the  bodies  in  tarred  sheets,  nailing  the  pine  coffins,  and 
carrying  out  and  bringing  in, — for  the  city  was  the  plague's 
battle-field,  and  the  slain  of  the  destroyer  were  too  numerous  for 
careful  burial. 

Groping  through  the  horrible  place,  he  presently  recognized 
the  form  of  his  patient.  The  workmen,  half  stupefied  with 
whisky,  were  tarring  a  sheet  to  wrap  him  in. 

' '  Stop !  stop ! ' '  cried  Father  Matthew ;  and  kneeling  down,  he 
placed  his  hand  over  the  young  man's  heart,  A  moment  of  sus- 
pense, while  the  men  stood  by,  astonished. 

' '  Thank  God,  he  is  alive  ! ' ' 

And  the  rescued  patient  was  soon  revived  by  restoratives,  and 
carried  and  laid  in  his  bed  again,  pouring  out  thanksgivings  to 
his  deliverer.  He  subsequently  recovered,  an  affecting  example 
of  a  saved  man.  But  for  Father  Matthew,  in  a  minute  more  he 
would  have  been  lost  to  the  world  forever. 


Two  Miners. 

177.  Two  miners  were  down  sinking  a  shaft,  and  to  do  this 
they  blasted  the  solid  rock.  They  had  placed  in  the  rock  a  large 
charge  of  gunpowder,  and  had  so  fixed  the  fuse  that  it  could  not 
be  taken  out.  Through  some  mistake  fire  was  struck,  and  the 
fuse  began  to  hiss.  On  seeing  this,  both  men  dashed  to  the  bucket 
and  gave  the  signal.  The  man  above  in  vain  attempted  to  move 
the  windlass.  One  of  the  miners,  seeing  that  only  one  could 
escape,  leaped  out  again,  and  said:  "Escape!  I  shall  be  in  heaven 
in  a  minute."  The  bucket  sped  up  the  shaft,  and  the  man  was 
safe.  Bager  to  watch  the  fate  of  his  deliverer,  he  bent  down  to 
hear.  Just  then  the  explosion  rumbled  below;  a  splinter  came 
up  the  shaft  and  struck  him  on  the  brow,  leaving  a  mark  that 
would  remind  him  all  his  days  of  his  rescue.  They  soon  began 
to  search  among  the  fallen  rock  for  the  dead  body.  But  to  their 
surprise  a  voice  was  heard,  and  they  found  that  their  friend  was 
yet  alive;  the  piece  of  rock  had  roofed  him  over,  and  he  was 
without  injury  or  scratch  of  any  kind.  When  asked  what  in- 
duced him  to  let  the  other  escape,  he  replied :  "I  knew  my  soul 
was  safe;  I  was  not  so  sure  of  his." 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES.  85 


Risking  His  Life  to  Save. 

178.  A  man  wlio  worked  on  a  railroad  in  Indiana  discovered, 
one  morning,  that  a  bridge  on  the  line  had  fallen  down.  Remem- 
bering that  a  train  was  almost  due,  he  started  along  the  road  to 
meet  it.  As  the  train  approached,  he  raised  his  hands  and  pointed 
toward  the  bridge;  but  the  train  sped  on.  Seeing  that  there  was 
no  time  to  lose,  he  threw  himself  across  the  rails.  The  engineer, 
seeing  it,  thought  he  was  a  madman,  and  instantly  shut  off 
steam,  put  on  the  brakes,  and  stopped  the  train.  The  man  arose, 
told  his  stor5^  and  thus  saved  the  train  from  disaster. 


"Repent  and  Reform." 

179.  "I  don't  believe  in  your  docftrine  of  atonement,'*  said  a 
skeptical  physician  to  a  Christian  patient.  "  If  a  man  is  leading 
a  bad  life,  he  must  repent  and  reform.  That  is  all.  There's  no 
necessity  for  any  atonement.  The  idea  of  a  suffering  Savior,  and 
a  Divine  price  paid  for  human  salvation,  is  monstrous."  This  he 
took  occasion  to  insist  upon  rather  frequently,  and  with  consider- 
able dogmatism,  mingling  his  arguments  liberally  with  his  pre- 
scriptions. 

The  lady  took  his  medicines,  but  did  not  accept  his  creed. 
After  her  recovery,  she  sent  word  to  the  doctor  to  make  out  his 
bill,  and  come  and  take  tea  with  her.  He  came,  and  in  the  course 
of  conversation  she  said  to  him : 

"  Well,  Do6lor,  I  suppose  my  long  illness  has  cost  you  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  and  expense,  in  journeys,  and  medicines,  and  per- 
sonal anxiety." 

He  acknowledged  that  it  had. 

"I  am  very  sorry , "  she  continued,  —  "  verj-^  sorry,  that  I  have 
put  you  to  so  much  labor  and  expense  on  my  account,  and  I 
promise  that  in  case  of  any  future  sickness  of  mine  I  will  never 
trouble  you  again.    So  you  see  I  both  repent  a?td  reform'" 

*'Ah,"  exclaimed  the  dod;or,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  "I  see 
that  do(5lrine  will  not  do  for  me. ' ' 


The  Faithful  Arab. 

l8o.  A  story  is  told  of  an  Arab,  who,  being  condemned  to 
death  by  a  king  in  whose  service  he  was,  asked  a  year's  respite, 


86 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


promisine:  to  give  himself  up  at  the  end  of  that  period,  and  in 
the  meantime  offering  a  friend  as  surety.  When  the  year  had 
passed  he  promptly  presented  himself,  and  when  the  astonished 
king  asked  him  what  had  brought  him  back,  he  answered  that 
he  was  a  Christian.  The  king  was  so  struck  with  the  reply  that 
he  not  only  pardaned  the  man,  but  became  a  Christian  himself. 
Tell  how  Jesus  has  become  surety  of  the  * '  better  testament ' '  for 
us  (Heb.  7:  22). 


Heroic  Humaneness. 

181.  One  of  the  unknown  heroes  of  the  fearful  yellow  fever 
summer  of  1878,  was  thus  mentioned  with  admiration  by  Dr. 
Bemis,  President  of  the  Yellow  Fever  Commission,  at  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Health  Associations  at  Richmond,  in  the  fall  of  that 
year. 

In  a  village  in  Mississippi,  where  there  was  a  mortality  of 
nearly  thirty  per  cent,  of  the  whole  population,  in  the  midst  of 
the  most  terrible  part  of  the  epidemic,  a  pale-faced  boy,  about 
nineteen  years  of  age,  came  walking  into  the  village  and  proffered 
his  services  in  aid  of  the  sick.  The  docflor  in  charge  asked  him 
what  he  could  do. 

' '  Anything,  if  you  will  first  tell  me  how. ' ' 

**Did  you  ever  see  a  case  of  yellow  fever?"  continued  the 
dodlor. 

"Never,"  replied  the  boy. 

"You  don't  know  how  to  nurse  yellow  fever?"  asked  the 
doctor. 

Said  the  boy,  ' '  If  you  will  tell  me  how,  I  can  follow  your  di- 
recftions." 

The  dodtor  pondered  a  moment,  and  then  said:  "You  are  al- 
ready exposed,  anyhow;  I  will  keep  you  here  and  put  you  ta 
work,  and  when  you  are  stricken  down  I  will  watch  you." 

The  do(5lor,  in  describing  this  incident  to  me,  said  he  never  wit- 
nessed such  tender  nursing,  such  faithful  watching.  The  boy 
continued  his  work  of  love,  and  was  the  means  of  saving  several 
lives.    Finally  his  turn  came. 

When  the  dodlor  first  visited  him,  he  found  him  with  his  arms 
folded  across  his  chest,  and  he  was  at  that  moment  giving  utter- 
ance to  such  a  prayer  as  the  do(5lor  declared  he  never  before  heard. 
Upon  questioning  him,  the  doctor  learned  that  he  was  the  only 
son  of  a  widowed  mother.  He  had  felt  impelled  by  a  sense  of 
duty  to  come  and  offer  his  services  in  the  care  of  the  sick  in  the 
village.  The  dodlor  watched  over  him  carefully,  and  ultimately 
the  terrible  fever  left  him  and  he  recovered.  He  was  sent  back 
home  after  the  epidemic  was  over.    I  did  not  even  learn  his  name. 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


87 


The  Bi^ood. 

r82.  There  is  a  legend  that,  on  the  night  of  the  exodus,  a 
young  Jewish  maiden — the  first-born  of  the  family — was  so 
troubled  on  her  sick-bed  that  she  could  not  sleep.  ' '  Father, ' '  she 
anxiously  inquired,  "are  you  sure  that  the  blood  is  there  ? "  He 
replied  that  he  had  ordered  it  to  be  sprinkled  on  the  lintel.  The 
restless  girl  would  not  be  satisfied  until  her  father  had  taken  her 
up  and  carried  her  to  the  door,  to  see  for  herself;  and  lo!  the 
blood  was  not  there  I  The  order  had  been  neglecfted,  and,  before 
midnight,  the  father  made  haste  to  put  on  his  door  the  sacred 
token  of  prote(?tion. 


A  Telegram  erom  Heaven. 

183.  A  young  man  was  once  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  tele- 
graph office,  in  a  town  in  England.  In  some  way  or  other  God 
led  him  to  see  that  he  was  a  sinner.  The  young  man  went  to  the 
office  one  morning  in  great  distress  of  mind,  from  the  burden  of 
his  sins.  He  was  lifting  up  his  heart  in  secret,  and  saying.  "God 
be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner, ' '  when  the  click  of  the  telegraph  ma- 
chine before  him  told  him  that  a  message  was  coming.  He 
looked  up,  and  saw  that  it  came  from  Windermere,  up  among  the 
beautiful  lakes  and  mountains.  There  was  first  the  name  and 
residence  of  the  person  for  whom  the  telegram  was  sent,  and  then 
followed  these  words  from  the  Bible:  "Behold  the  Lamb  of  God, 
which  taketh  away  the  sin  of  the  world ! "  "In  whom  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  according 
to  the  riches  of  his  grace."  And  then  followed  the  name  of  the 
person  sending  it.  This  was  a  strange  message  to  send  by  tele- 
graph. The  explanation  of  it  was  this :  The  telegram  was  sent  to 
a  servant  girl  living  in  that  town.  She  was  in  distress  about  her 
sins,  and  trying  to  find  Jesus.  She  had  a  brother  who  was  a 
Christian ;  he  was  a  servant  in  the  family  of  a  gentleman  who 
was  spending  the  summer  at  the  lakes.  This  poor  girl  had  writ- 
ten to  her  brother,  telling  him  about  the  trouble  she  was  in,  and 
asking  him  the  great  question,'  "What  must  I  do  to  be  saved .f^" 
Her  brother  had  no  time  to  write  to  her  just  then;  so  he  sent  her 
this  telegram.  The  poor  girl  found  her  way  to  Jesus  through 
those  sweet  words  from  her  brother,  and  so  did  that  young  man 
in  the  telegraph  office.  This  was  a  telegram  frofn  Heaveji  to  him. 
Those  precious  words  —  " the  Lamb  of  God, "  "taketh  away  .  .  . 
sin,"  "redemption  through  his  blood,"  and  "the  riches  of  his 
grace," — brought  him  to  Jesus,  and  he  found  peace  in  him. 


88 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Secure  Under  the  Token. 

184.  The  onh^  survivor  of  the  ill-fated  company  on  board  the 
Virginius,  captured  a  Spanish  man-of-war,  during  the  Cuban 
rebellion,  was  General  Cook,  once  the  ranking  ofl&cer  in  the 
Cuban  armj',  but  an  American. 

A  few  daj-s  after  their  capture,  the  imprisoned  insurgent  officers 
were  taken  from  the  jail  where  they  were  confined,  and  shot,  two 
by  two,  until  Cook's  turn  came.  He  was  bound  and  blindfolded, 
like  the  rest,  and  heard  the  order  given  to  his  executioners.  But 
before  they  could  fire.  Captain  Lambton  Lorraine,  the  English 
Consul  in  Havana,  rushed  to  his  side  with  the  British  flag  in  his 
hand,  and  covered  his  person  with  it.  "Fire,  if  you  dare!"  he 
shouted  to  the  Spanish  commander,  General  Burriel.  "If  3'ou 
hurt  a  hair  of  this  man^s  headj  I'll  blow  your  town  to  pieces!" 

The  Spaniard  blustered  and  swore ;  but  the  British  gun-boats 
in  the  harbor  were  too  likely  to  enforce  the  consul's  threat,  and 
he  was  forced  to  let  the  American  go. 

Everj'  sinner  who  will,  may  find  refuge  under  the  red  sign  of 
Jesus'  atoning  death.  Against  that  Satan  dares  not  hurl  a  single 
shot. 


An  Important  Item  Forgotten. 

185.  In  a  wa^'  more  tenderly  personal  to  the  penitent  sinner, 
He  who  silenced  the  demons  silences  Satan  himself. 

Du  IMoulin  relates  the  legend  of  the  Devil  appearing  to  a  dying 
Christian.  He  stood  at  the  bedside  and  unrolled  a  prodigioush' 
long  parchment,  written  all  over,  on  both  sides,  with  the  poor 
man's  sin's  ;  sins  of  commission,  sins  of  omission,  deliberate  sins, 
angr3'  sins,  ungodh'  words,  idle  words,  evil  thoughts. 

"See  your  record,"  sneered  the  great  Enemy,  holding  up  the 
long  list.  ' '  Can  3'ou  pass  examination  on  all  these  at  the  bar  of 
God.?" 

"Ah,"  said  the  dying  man,  meekh',  "you  forgot  to  add  down 
below,  '  The  blood  of Jesus  Christ  his  So?i  cleaiiseth  us  from  all  sin'  " 
Then  the  Devil  vanished. 


The  Watchword. 

186.  In  one  of  the  rock-galleries  of  Gibraltar,  two  British 
sailors  had  mounted  guard,  one  at  each  end  of  the  vast  tunnel. 
One  was  a  believing  man,  whose  soul  had  found  rest  on  the  Rock 
of  Ages ;  the  other  was  seeking  rest,  but  had  not  found  it.  It 
was  midnight,  and  these  soldiers  were  going  their  rounds,  the 


RKVIVAI.  ANKCDOTKS.  89 

one  meditating  on  the  blood  which  had  brought  peace  to  his  soul, 
the  other  darkly  brooding  over  his  own  disquietudes  and  doubts. 
Suddenly  an  officer  passes,  challenges  the  former,  and  demands 
the  watchword.  "The  precious  blood  of  Christ,"  called  out  the 
startled  veteran,  forgetting  for  a  moment  the  pass-word  of  the 
night,  and  uttering  unconsciously  the  thought  which  at  that  mo- 
ment was  filling  his  soul.  The  next  moment  he  correcfted  him- 
self, and  the  officer,  no  doubt  amazed,  passed  on.  The  words  he 
spoke  had  rung  through  the  gallery,  and  entered  the  ears  of  his 
fellow-soldier  at  the  other  end,  like  a  message  from  heaven.  It 
seemed  as  if  an  angel  had  spoken,  or  rather  as  if  God  himself 
had  proclaimed  the  good  news  in  that  still  hour.  '  *  The  precious 
blood  of  Christ!"  Yes,  that  was  peace.  His  troubled  soul  was 
now  at  rest. 


One  Thing  God  Cannot  See. 

187.  A  teacher,  speaking  to  his  scholars  of  the  omniscience 
of  God,  said,  ' '  There  is  nothing  that  God  cannot  see.  '  The  eyes 
of  the  Lord  are  in  every  place,  beholding  the  evil  and  the  good,' 
and  nothing  is  hidden  from  his  sight."  A  little  boy  raised  his 
hand,  indicating  a  desire  to  speak.  The  teacher  gave  him  permis- 
sion, and  the  little  fellow  said,  "Teacher,  there's  one  thing  God 
cannot  see."  The  teacher  asked,  "  What  is  that  ? "  The  boy  re- 
plied, "  He  can't  see  our  sins  through  the  blood  of  Christ." 


"The  Plank  of  Free  Grace." 

188.  When  McLaren,  of  Tolbooth  Church,  Edinburgh,  lay 
dying,  Gustart,  his  predecessor  in  the  ministry  there,  came  to  see 
him  and  inquired  affecflionately  after  his  present  'state  and  occu- 
pation of  mind.  ' '  I  will  tell  you  what  I  am  doing,  brother, ' '  said 
the  dying  preacher;  "I  am  gathering  together  all  my  prayers, 
all  my  sermons,  all  my  good  deeds,  all  my  ill*  deeds ;  and  I  am 
going  to  throw  them  all  overboard,  and  swim  to  glory  on  the 
plank  of  free  grace. ' ' 


3.  HOLY  SPIRIT. 


A  Good  Illustration. 

189.  A  skeptic,  who  was  trying  to  confuse  a  Christian  colored 
man  by  the  contradicflory  passages  in  the  Bible,  asked  how  it 


90 


THE  GOSPEI.  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


could  be  that  we  were  in  the  Spirit  and  the  Spirit  in  us,  and  re- 
ceived the  reply:  "Oh,  dar's  no  puzzle 'bout  dat.  It's  like  dat 
poker.  I  puts  it  in  de  fire  till  it  gets  red-hot.  Now,  de  poker's 
in  de  fire  an'  de  fire's  in  de  poker."  A  profound  theologian  could 
not  have  made  a  better  reply. 


Obeying  the  Spirit. 

IQO.  Rev.  P.  H.  Wagner  furnivshes  the  following  incident. 
During  a  revival  meeting  of  great  power,  under  his  care,  he  saw 
a  local  preacher,  who  had  been  earnestly  helping  penitents  at  the 
altar  into  the  light,  suddenly  arise  and  look  most  earnestly  at 
two  young  men  who  were  sitting  in  the  rear  end  of  the  church, 
one  of  whom  was  the  acknowledged  leader  in  all  mischief  in  the 
community.  The  local  preacher  evidently  felt  impressed  that  he 
ought  to  go  and  speak  to  the  young  men,  but,  after  looking  a 
moment  longer,  he  turned  back  to  the  altar  atid  continued  his 
labors  there.  After  the  service  was  over  he  acknowledged  to  his 
pastor  that  he  had  been  disobedient  to  the  Spirit,  but  promised 
that  if  the  same  impression  were  made  upon  him  the  next  evening, 
he  would  go.  During  the  altar  services  the  next  evening  he  had 
the  same  experience,  and,  no  longer  hesitating,  went  back  to  the 
young  men,  and  sitting  down  beside  the  leader  in  evil,  he  asked 
him,  ' '  Do  3'ou  not  want  to  be  a  Christian  ?"  With  suffused  eyes 
and  quivering  lips,  he  replied:  "Of  course  I  do.  I  was  waiting 
to  see  if  any  one  felt  enough  interest  in  me  to  invite  me  to  seek 
salvation."  Without  hesitation  both  the  young  men  arose  and 
followed  the  local  preacher  to  the  altar,  and  soon  were  happily 
converted. 


The  Duty  Done. 

191.  A  Presbyterian  minivSter  tells  the  following  story.  He 
was  at  one  time  pastor  of  a  church  in  a  town  where  the  richest  and, 
in  every  wa^',  most  prominent  man  w*as  a  notorious  neglecfter 
of  religion,  and  openly  hostile  to  the  ministers.  Seeing  the  old 
man  in  his  carriage  before  a  store  in  the  place  one  day,  he  felt  a 
strange  impulse  to  "go  near  and  join ' '  himself  to  this  chariot,  and 
ask  the  libertj^  of  visiting  him,  that  he  might  preach  the  Savior. 
Fearing  a  scene,  he  refrained  and  was  conscience-smitten.  Six 
weeks  later  he  met  the  carriage  on  the  street  again.  The  impulse 
was  renewed,  and  the  same  words  were  suggested.  He  immedi- 
ately consulted  one  of  his  judicious  deacons,  who  advised  him 
not  to  visit  him.   He  would  be  driven  from  the  door;  there  would 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


91 


be  a  scandal,  and  lie  would  become  an  objedl  ot  derision.  But 
lie  could  not  rest.  He  felt  it  was  God  calling  bim  to  "go  near 
and  join"  tbe  godless  old  man;  and,  in  disobedience  to  advice, 
the  next  day  he  approached  the  stately  mansion,  trembling.  He 
saw  the  old  man,  and  was  seen  by  him.  The  door  was  opened. 
He  expe(5ted  insult.  Instead,  two  trembling  hands  were  extended 
in  welcome,  and  the  strange  words  uttered,  ' '  I  have  been  looking 
for  a  visit  from  you  for  six  weeks.  I  have  been  longing  to  know 
more  about  the  I^ord  I  have  so  long  rejecSted."  The  wife  and 
daughter  were  called  in,  and  there  he  "preached  unto  them 
Jesus ' ' ;  and  all  three  soon  afterward  believed,  and  ' '  went  on 
their  way  rejoicing."  When  one  is  prompted  by  the  Spirit  to 
speak,  it  is  safe  to  hope  and  believe  that  the  Spirit  is  prompting 
to  hear. 


The  Power  of  the  Spirit. 

192.    Rev.  M.  R.  Drury  furnishes  this  striking  incidenu. 

"While  the  methods  of  the  Spirit  are  by  no  means  uniform, 
his  power  in  the  quickening  of  the  heart,  and  in  leading  to  a 
complete  surrender  to  Christ,  is  unvarying  in  every  true  conver- 
sion. That  Spirit  can  find  a  sinner  anywhere,  and  make  even 
the  most  unthought  of  means  the  instrument  of  deep  convi(5lion. 
During  a  series  of  special  revival  meetings  in  a  large  city  a  few 
years  ago,  one  merchant  called  upon  another  whom  he  knew  to 
be  irreligious  and  profane.  He  found  him  reading  the  report  of 
a  sermon  to  the  unconverted,  in  a  daily  paper.  He  was  surprised. 
He  was  surprised  still  more  when  the  man  laid  down  his  paper, 
and  said  with  emphasis,  'The  Holy  Spirit  is  on  that  man,  or  he 
could  not  preach  so.'  He  had  not  been  attending  the  meetings, 
but  by  reading  the  sermons  in  the  papers,  God's  Spirit  got  hold 
of  him  and  he  became  concerned  for  his  soul,  and  was  soon  hap- 
pily converted.  He  then  called  his  partners  in  business  together 
and  told  them  of  his  change.  'Business  has  been  first  with  me, 
as  you  know  very  well,'  he  said  to  them;  'hereafter  religion 
is  to  be  first,  and  business  second.'  " 


The  Spirit  and  the  InfideIv. 

193.  The  following  incident,  which  occurred  in  a  Western 
city,  is  related  by  Rev.  M.  R.  Drury.  A  man  of  wealth  and  high 
standing  in  the  community,  aged  sixty  years,  was  converted  at 
his  home.  Though  a  moral  man,  he  was  an  avowed  infidel.  A 
revival  of  great  power  and  wide  interest  was  in  progress  in  his 


92 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


city,  but  lie  did  not  attend  the  meetingvS.  Finally  he  sent  a  note 
to  a  near  neighbor,  asking  him  to  call  early  at  his  home.  This 
friend  complied  with  the  request,  and  on  entering  the  house 
found  his  worldly  neighbor  weeping.    The  first  thing  he  said 

was,  "B  ,  I  want  religion."    The  two  bowed  there  together, 

and  soon  the  man  who  had  long  walked  in  the  ways  of  sin  yielded 
his  heart  to  Christ,  and  was  saved.  He  then  went  into  the  meet- 
ings and  publicly  confessed  Christ,  and  wholly  repudiated  all  his 
past  testimony  on  the  subjedt  of  religion.  He  at  once  became  an 
earnest  worker  in  the  meetings.    Such  is  the  power  of  the  Spirit. 


"Grieve  Not  the  Holy  Spirit." 

194.  Rev,  J.  P.  Anthony  was  one  evening  preaching  on  the 
text,  "  Grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God"  (Eph.  4 :  30).  A  busi- 
ness man  passing  by  simply  heard  the  text,  but  was  so  troubled 
that  he  came  back,  entered,  and  sat  down.  His  business  required 
his  attention,  and  he  rose  and  went  out,  but  after  he  had  gone  a 
little  distance  from  the  church  he  was  so  strangely  impressed 
that  he  returned  and  knelt  at  the  altar,  and  was  soon  soundly 
converted. 


The  ParaIvYzed  Tongue. 

195*  aged  Christian  was  prostrated  by  a  stroke  of  paraly- 
sis, which  partially  affedted  his  tongue.  When  the  minister  came 
to  see  him,  he  could  not  speak.  How  that  man  writhed  in  agony ! 
All  was  incoherent.  But  when  the  nurse — who,  by  experience, 
had  learned  to  see  his  meaning  when  his  paralyzed  lips  could 
only  mumble,  and  his  tongue  pour  forth  no  sound  at  all — came 
and  interpreted  the  noise  to  the  minister,  and  read  the  meaning 
that  was  expressed  on  his  countenance,  with  what  a  sense  of  re- 
lief he  fell  back  on  his  couch !  What  is  our  prayer,  oft-times,  but 
the  babbling  of  half-paralyzed  lips  ?  ' '  Likewise  the  Spirit  also 
helpeth  our  infirmities." 


"I  Can't  Pray." 

196.  During  a  very  interesting  meeting  held  by  Rev,  W.  A. 
Keesy,  of  Ohio,  one  man  said  to  another:  "Let  us  go  up  into 
the  amen-corner.  This  is  all  humbug — magnetism  or  excite- 
ment. Let  us  see  for  ourselves."  Accordingly  the}'"  took  a  seat 
near  the  pulpit,  their  motives  utterly  unknown  to  the  preacher. 


REvivAi^  ane;cdotbs. 


93 


When  tlie  invitation  was  given  to  penitents  to  come  to  the  altar, 
a  number  came  forward.  Mr.  Keesy  addressed  the  two  men,  in- 
quiring whether  they  were  Christians.  "O,  I  am  all  right!" 
said  the  first.  ' '  Thank  God, ' '  said  the  preacher.  "  We  are  going  to 
pray  now;  you  lead  us  in  prayer. ' '  But  the  man,  in  consternation, 
insisted  that  he  could  not  pray,— that  he  had  never  prayed  in  his 
life.  '  *  Ah,  but  you  said  you  were  all  right ;  how  can  a  man  be 
all  right  who  does  not  pray?"  These  words  clung  to  him.  "I 
can't  pray,"  rang  in  his  ears,  and  terrified  his  soul,  until  a  few 
evenings  afterward  he  knelt  at  the  altar  and  realized  the  pardon 
of  his  sins.  Now  he  could  pray,  and  he  has  been  ever  since  an 
exemplary  Christian. 


"I  Can't  Stand  That." 

197.  Rev.  J.  W.  Kilbourn  tells  of  a  man  who  went  into  a 
meeting  and  became  deeply  convicfted  of  sin.  "I  can't  stand 
that,"  he  said;  "I  will  go  out  and  get  some  liquor."  He  went 
across  the  street  to  a  saloon  and  procured  some  whisky.  *  *  Now, ' ' 
he  said,  "I  think  I  can  stand  it,"  and  went  back  into  the  meet- 
ing. But  the  power  of  the  Spirit  was  even  greater  than  before. 
"It  is  too  much  for  me  yet,"  he  remarked.  "I  must  have  some 
more  liquor.  I  will  go  and  get  enough  this  time. ' '  He  went  out 
and  sought  to  drown  his  convi(5lion  in  liquor,  and  drank  so  much 
that  in  the  morning  he  was  found  dead. 


4.  GOD'S  WORD. 


"I  Sbe  the  Sun!" 

198.  A  Hindoo  was  led  to  forsake  idolatry  by  a  few  leaves  of 
the  Psalms  that  somehow  came  into  his  possession,  among  which 
was  the  fifty-first.  This  last  was  his  gospel  for  twenty  years, 
when  he  met  a  missionary  and  received  a  New  Testament.  "Ah, ' ' 
he  exclaimed,  as  he  read,  "twenty  years  I  have  walked  by  star- 
light ;  now  I  see  the  sun  ! ' ' 


"TiLiy  WB  Ge:t  a  Better." 

199.  A  society  of  educated  gentlemen,  having  all  adopted 
principles  of  infidelity,  determined  to  set  apart  one  evening  meet- 


94  THB  GosPEiv  worker's  treasury. 

ing  to  the  burning  of  the  Bible.  A  large  fire  was  prepared,  and  the 
Bible  placed  on  the  table,  with  the  glasses  around  it  from  which 
they  proposed  to  drink  a  blasphemous  toast.  One  of  their  num- 
ber was  fixed  upon  to  perform  the  task;  he  took  up  the  Bible 
and  was  walking  forward  to  cast  it  into  the  fire,  when  he  was  ar- 
rested by  looking  upon  the  book ;  he  trembled,  turned  pale,  and 
laying  the  Bible  down  upon  the  table,  he  said,  "No,  we  will  not 
burn  that  Book  till  we  get  a  better. ' ' 


Bible  Proof. 

200.  A  Christian  woman  was  introduced  by  the  leader  of  an 
inquiry  meeting  to  a  skeptic,  who  had  warded  off  all  invitations 
to  come  to  Christ,  by  raising  objedtions  or  making  cynical  re- 
marks. His  first  remark  was,  "So  you  have  come  to  interview 
me."  The  reply  was,  "No,  I  do  not  know  enough  to  do  that. 
I^et  us  both  interview  the  Bible,  and  see  what  we  can  learn." 
Somewhat  disarmed  by  this  reply,  his  tone  changed,  and  he  said 
he  was  very  willing  to  have  a  conversation.  But  his  old  habit 
returned  upon  him,  and  he  propounded  one  after  another  of  the 
intelledlual  difficulties  in  his  way.  The  lady  met  each  one  by 
saying:  "I  cannot  answer  you.  I  cannot  pretend  to  do  so.  But 
let  us  see  what  the  Bible  says  about  it. ' '  And  then  opening  the 
Bible  she  would  read  such  passages  as  gave  a  Divine  answer  to 
each  question.  In  this  way,  he  was  driven  back  by  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit  from  point  to  point,  until,  forced  to  give  up  the  struggle, 
he  sprang  to  his  feet,  saying :  ' '  This  question  must  be  settled  to- 
night. Pray  for  me."  Eventually  he  was  converted,  not  as  the 
result  of  reasoning,  but  of  a  judicious  use  of  Divine  truth. 


"Light  from  Above." 

20I.  The  celebrated  Mr.  Hume  once  wrote  an  essay  on  the 
sufficiency  of  the  light  of  Nature,  and  the  no  less  celebrated 
Robertson  wrote  on  the  necessity  of  Revelation,  and  the  insuf- 
ficiency of  the  light  of  Nature.  Hume  came  one  evening  to  visit 
Robertson,  and  the  evening  was  spent  on  this  subjecft.  The 
friends  of  both  were  present,  and  it  is  said  that  Robertson  rea- 
soned with  unaccustomed  clearness  and  power;  whether  Hume 
was  convinced  by  his  reasoning  or  not,  we  cannot  tell,  but  at  any 
rate  he  did  not  acknowledge  his  convi(5tions.  Hume  was  very 
much  of  a  gentleman,  and  as  he  arose  to  depart,  bowed  politely  to 
those  in  the  room,  while  as  he  retired  through  the  door,  Robert- 


REVIVAIy  ANECDOTES. 


95 


son  took  the  light  to  show  him  the  way.  Hume  was  still  facing- 
the  door.  "O,  sir,"  said  he  to  Robertson,  *'I  find  the  light  of 
Nature  always  sufficient";  and  continued,  **Pray,  don't  trouble 
yourself,  sir,"  and  so  he  bowed  on.  The  street  door  was  opened, 
and  presently,  as  he  bowed  along  in  the  entry,  he  stumbled  over 
something  concealed,  and  pitched  down  the  stairs  into  the  street. 
Robertson  ran  after  him  with  a  light,  and  as  he  held  it  over  him, 
whispered  softly  and  cunningly,  "You  had  better  have  a  little 
light  from  above,  friend  Hume."  And  raising  him  up,  he  bade 
him  good-night,  and  returned  to  his  friends. 


The  Best  Book  oe  Kvidences. 

202.  At  a  recent  Bible  meeting  in  North  Carolina,  Governor 
Vance  made  an  mteiesting  speech,  in  which  he  stated  how  he  was 
relieved  from  the  doubts  respe(5ling  the  authority  of  the  Script- 
ure with  which  every  thinking  man  is  at  some  time  or  other 
troubled.  He  asked  a  clergj^man  of  his  acquaintance  to  recom- 
mend to  him  some  book  which  would  relieve  his  mind.  The 
clergyman,  with  great  good  sense,  advised  him  to  read  the  Bible 
itself,  rather  than  any  book  written  on  its  behalf.  He  did  so,  and 
found  his  case  met  exacT;ly. 


Science  and  the  Bibee. 

203.  A  skeptical  hearer  once  said  to  a  Baptist  minister,  ' '  How 
do  you  reconcile  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  w^th  the  latest  conclu- 
sions of  science?"  "I  haven't  seen  this  morning's  papers," 
naively  replied  the  minister.  ' '  What  are  the  latest  conclusions 
of  modern  science  ? ' ' 


Heed  it  the  Wrong  Way. 

204.  Many  of  the  modern  criticisms  on  the  Bible  remind  one 
of  the  connoisseur  who,  taking  up  a  small  cabinet  pi(5lure,  railed 
most  eloquently  at  the  absurd  caprice  of  the  artist  in  painting  a 
horse  sprawling.  ''Excuse  me,  sir,"  replied  the  owner  of  the 
piece,  ' '  you  hold  it  the  wrong  w^ay .    It  is  a  horse  galloping. ' ' 


"BiBEE  First." 

^  205.  About  forty  years  ago,  a  Christian  man  sat  at  his  fire- 
side in  Philadelphia.    Near  by  him,  playing  on  the  floor,  was  his 


96 


the;  gospel  worker's  treasury. 


only  child,  a  beautiful  little  boy.  It  was  early  in  the  morning-. 
The  day's  work  had  not  yet  begun;  and  waiting  for  his  breakfast, 
it  may  be,  the  father  took  up  the  daily  paper  to  read.  The  boy 
at  once  climbed  into  his  lap,  and  snatched  away  the  paper,  ex- 
claiming, "No,  no,  papa!    Bible  first — Bible  first,  papa!*' 

That  lesson,  taught  by  a  little  child,  was  probably  a  turning- 
point  in  the  life  of  that  man.  Death  soon  came  and  tore  away 
the  sweet  little  preacher,  but  his  morning  sermon  was  never  for- 
gotten. The  business  man,  in  his  loneliness  and  sorrow,  went 
forth  to  do  his  work  for  Christ.  Bible  first,  papa,"  was  ever 
ringing  in  his  ears.  It  became  the  motto  of  his  life.  He  was 
exceedingly  prosperous  in  business.  Wealth  accumulated ;  busi- 
ness increased;  friends  multiplied.  But  uttermost  in  that  man's 
heart  was  the  precious  Word  of  God.  He  read  and  studied  it.  As 
teacher  and  superintendent  in  the  Sabbath-school,  he  taught  it. 
He  did  more  than  this — he  pra(fticed  its  precepts. 

The  gentleman  referred  to  was  the  well-known  locomotive  en- 
gine builder,  Matthias  W.  Baldwin,  of  Philadelphia.  Would  not 
the  child's  cry,  ''Bible  first!"  be  an  excellent  motto  for  every 
Sunday-school  teacher  in  the  land  ? 


The  Iron  Kgg. 

2o6.  In  a  museum  at  Berlin  is  an  iron  egg,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing story  is  told.  Many  years  ago  a  prince  became  affianced 
to  a  lovely  princess,  to  whom  he  promised  to  send  a  magnificent 
gift  as  a  testimonial  of  his  affection.  In  due  time  the  messenger 
arrived,  bringing  the  promised  gift,  which  proved  to  be  an  iron 
egg.  The  princess  was  so  angry  to  think  that  the  prince  should 
send  her  so  valueless  a  present  that  she  threw  it  upon  the  floor, 
when  the  iron  egg  opened,  disclosing  a  silver  lining.  Surprised 
at  such  a  discovery,  she  took  the  egg  in  her  hand,  and  while  ex- 
amining it  closely  discovered  a  secret  spring,  which  she  touched, 
and  the  silver  lining  opened,  disclosing  a  golden  yelk.  Examin- 
ing it  carefully,  she  found  another  spring,  which,  when  opened, 
disclosed  within  the  golden  yelk  a  ruby  crown.  Subje(5ling  that 
to  an  examination,  she  touched  a  spring,  and  forth  came  the  dia- 
mond ring  w4th  which  he  affianced  her  to  himself. 

So  often  come  the  richest  gifts  of  God  to  us.  The  Word  of 
God,  in  particular,  opens  out  more  and  more  richly  as  we  examine 
it,  and  touch  its  hidden  springs  of  power. 


An  Unsuspected  Treasure. 

207.  A  nobleman  once  gave  a  celebrated  acftress  a  Bible,  tell- 
ing her  at  the  same  time  that  there  was  a  treasure  in  it.  She,, 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


97 


thinking  he  meant  religion,  laid  the  Bible  aside.  She  died,  and 
all  she  had  was  sold.  The  person  who  bought  the  Bible,  on  turn- 
ing over  its  leaves ^  found  a  five  hundred  pound  note  in  it.  Poor 
creature !  had  she  read  that  book,  she  might  have  found  not  only 
the  note,  but  the    pearl  of  great  price." 


A  Baked  Bible. 

2o8.  There  is  a  Bible  in  Lucas  County,  Ohio,  which  was 
once  baked  in  a  loaf  of  bread.  It  now  belongs  to  a  Mr.  Schebolt, 
a  worthy  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  who  resides 
near  South  Toledo.  Mr.  Schebolt  is  a  native  of  Bohemia,  and  the 
baked  Bible  was  originally  the  property  of  his  grandfather,  who 
was  a  faithful  Protestant  Christian  in  the  times  which  tried  men's 
souls.  During  one  of  the  cruel  persecutions  which  have  been  so 
common  in  Bohemia,  an  edi(5l  was  issued  that  every  Bible  in  the 
hands  of  the  peasants  should  be  delivered  up  to  the  authorities 
and  destroyed.  Mrs.  Schebolt,  grandmother  of  the  present  owner, 
placed  her  Bible  in  the  center  of  a  batch  of  dough,  which  was 
ready  for  the  oven,  and  baked  it.  The  house  was  carefully 
searched,  but  no  Bible  was  found ;  and  when  the  persecutors  had 
departed,  and  the  danger  was  passed,  the  Bible  was  taken  unin- 
jured from  the  loaf,  which  had  contained  nourishment  for  body 
and  soul. 


A  Good  Stimulant. 

209.  The  ladies  of  Philadelphia  met  a  regiment  that  was 
stopping  in  that  city  for  a  few  hours,  to  give  food  and  drink  to 
the  weary  soldiers  who  had  been  riding  so  long  in  the  hot  cars. 
One  of  the  ladies  offered  a  soldier  a  glass  of  ale.  He  thanked 
her,  but  said,  "I  never  drink  intoxicating  liquors."  "But," 
said  the  lady,  "you  are  now  very  weary,  and  need  some  stimu- 
lant." The  Christian  soldier  took  a  little  Testament  from  his 
pocket,  and  holding  it  up  as  his  canteen,  said,  "That's  all  the 
stimulant  I  need." 


Good  Fruits  from  a  Bad  Book. 

2i;o»    A  Roman  Catholic  priest  in  Belgium  rebuked  a  young 
woman  and  her  brother  for  reading  that  "bad  book,"  pointing  to 
the  Bible.      Sir,"  she  replied,  "a  little  while  ago  my  brother 
was  an  idler,  a  gambler,  and  a  drunkard.    Since  he  began  to  study 
7 


^8 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


the  Bible,  lie  works  with  industry,  goes  no  longer  to  the  tavern, 
no  longer  touches  cards,  brings  home  money  to  his  poor  old 
mother,  and  our  life  at  home  is  quiet  and  delightful.  How  comes 
it,  sir,  that  a  bad  book  produces  such  good  fruits  ?" 


"Keep  me  own  Cow." 

211.  A  priest  was  trying  to  persuade  an  Irish  Catholic  who 
had  procured  an  English  Bible,  to  surrender  it,  saying,  among 
other  things,  that  he  needed  not  the  strong  meat  of  the  whole 
Bible,  but  the  '  *  sincere  milk  of  the  word ' '  as  furnished  by  him- 
self, i.  e.,  the  priest.  "Milk,  did  you  say?"  said  the  Irishman; 
"then  I'll  just  keep  me  own  cow." 


A  Rusty  Sword. 

212.  ' '  An  unused  Bible  is  like  a  rusty  sword ;  you  cannot  pull 
it  out  of  the  scabbard,  and  hence  you  cannot  defend  yourself  or 
fight,"  says  Dr.  Munhall. 


Out  oe  the  Bible. 

213.  When  a  colporteur  asked  a  back-woodsman  if  he  had  a 
Bible  in  his  house,  the  man  rummaged  on  an  upper  shelf  of  a 
cupboard  until  he  found  a  few  torn  leaves  of  a  Testament.  ' '  I 
declare,  stranger!"  said  he,  "I  do  need  some  more  Bible;  I  did 
not  know  we  were  so  near  out ! ' '  What  this  illiterate  frontiers- 
man put  so  roughly,  is  literally  true  of  too  many  Christian  pro- 
fessors. They  are  sadly  "out  of  Bible,"  and  not  only  of  that, 
but  of  all  sound  devotional  reading  which  can  elevate  and  invig- 
orate the  soul.  Nothing  will  give  tone  and  sinew  to  enfeebled 
piety  like  a  thorough  study  of  God's  Word. 


Out  oe  the  Bible  into  the  Newspaper. 

214.  A  story  is  told  of  a  minister  who  taught  an  old  man  in 
his  parish  to  read.  He  proved  a  proficient  scholar.  After  the 
teaching  had  come  to  an  end,  the  minister  was  not  able  to  call  at 
the  cottage  for  some  time,  and  when  he  did  he  found  only  the 
wife  at  home. ' 


RBVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


99 


^* How's  John?"  said  he. 

He's  canny,  sir,"  said  the  wife. 
"How  does  he  get  on  with  his  reading-?" 
"Nicely,  sir." 

"Ah !  I  suppose  he  will  read  his  Bible  very  comfortably,  now." 

"Bible,  sir!  Bless  you!  He  was  out  of  the  Bible  and  into  the 
newspaper  long  ago." 

There  are  many  other  persons  who,  like  this  old  man,  have  long 
heen  out  of  the  Bible  and  into  the  newspaper. 


A  Miraculous  I^antern. 

215.  An  ancient  king  sent  his  sons  on  a  journey.  In  the 
country  they  were  to  cross,  the  heats  of  day-time  were  fierce  and 
oppressive,  and  much  of  their  travel  would  be  in  the  night ;  so 
he  gave  to  each  of  them  a  miraculous  lantern,  whose  light  would 
always  point  the  way  they  ought  to  go.  With  these  in  their 
hands  they  went  safely ;  but  after  a  time  they  grew  discontented. 
There  were  other  ways  that  looked  pleasanter  and  easier  than  the 
one  along  which  their  light  led  them,  and  they  wanted  to  strike 
out  for  themselves.  They  finally  plastered  one  side  of  their  lan- 
terns with  clay,  and  then  they  could  go  where  they  chose.  Once 
out  of  the  right  path,  they  disagreed,  and  finally  became  sepa- 
rated, and  all  wandered  and  stumbled  on  the  ' '  dark  mountains ' ' 
— and  their  father  was  obliged  to  send  a  messenger  to  find  them 
and  bring  them  back. 

"Thy  Word  is  a  lamp  unto  my  feet,"  etc.  He  is  a  wretch  who 
tampers  with  its  light,  and  tries  to  make  it  shine  the  wrong  way. 


A  Troublesome  Compass. 

2X6.  A  storj^  is  told  of  an  old  hunter  in  Michigan,  who,  when 
the  country  was  new,  got  lost  in  the  woods  several  times.  He 
was  told  to  buy  a  pocket  compass,  which  he  did,  and  a  friend  ex- 
plained to  him  its  use.  He  soon  got  lost,  and  lay  out  as  usual. 
When  found,  he  was  asked  why  he  did  not  travel  by  the  compass. 
He  said  he  did  not  dare  to.  He  wished  to  go  north,  and  he  tried 
hard  to  make  the  thing  point  north,  but  " 'twasn't  any  use. 
'Twould  shake,  shake  right  around,  and  point  southeast  every 
time." 

A  great  many  people  are  afraid  to  take  the  Bible  and  follow 
just  as  it  points;  or  in  their  wrong-headedness  they  refuse  to  let 
it  mean  anything  but  what  they  want  it  to  mean. 


100 


the:  gospel  worker's  treasury. 


He  had  Burnt  it. 

217.  A  man  wlio  had  followed  sin  and  despised  righteousness 
all  his  life,  said  on  his  death-bed,  when  a  minister  bent  over  him 
and  repeated  some  passages  from  the  Word  of  God,  ' '  That  Book 
might  do  for  me  now,  but  I  burnt  it ! " 


Sold  the  Bible  eor  Drink. 

2l8.  A  Christian  man,  in  British  India,  frequently  visited  an 
English  soldier  under  sentence  of  death  for  committing  murder 
while  intoxicated.  "While  he  held  religious  conversation  with 
him,  other  prisoners  sometimes  were  allow^ed  to  come  and  listen. 
Once  he  asked  them  if  any  of  them  owned  a  Bible.  Most  of 
them  answered,  ' '  No ' ' ;  but  the  murderer  confessed  that  he  had 
once  owned  one,  but  sold  it  for  drink.  "If  I  had  listened  to  mj^ 
Bible, ' '  he  said,  ' '  I  should  not  have  been  here. ' ' 

"Selling  one's  Bible  for  drink"  may  stand  as  atypical  example 
of  sinners'  foolish  and  wicked  waste  of  the  opportunities  of  life. 


That  will  do  to  Light  my  Pipe. 

219.  In  1855,  a  colporteur,  with  New  Testaments  printed  by 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  came  to  Toulon,  France, 
while  the  soldiers  were  embarking  for  the  Crimea.  He  offered 
one  of  the  Testaments  to  a  soldier,  who  asked  him  what  book 
it  might  be.  ' '  The  Word  of  God, ' '  was  the  answer.  ' '  Let  me 
have  it,  then,"  said  the  man.  But  when  he  had  received  it,  he 
added,  laughing,  "Now  it  wdll  do  very  well  to  light  my  pipe." 
The  colporteur  regretted  having  so  wasted  the  treasure,  but  could 
not  recall  the  gift.  A  year  later,  being  in  the  center  of  France, 
he  sought  lodging  at  an  inn,  where  he  found  the  people  in  great 
distress  over  the  death  of  a  son  in  the  war,  who  had  returned  from 
the  war  to  die.  "But  I  have  such  consolation,"  said  the  mother; 
'  he  died  so  happy  and  full  of  peace.  He  found  all  his  comfort 
in  one  little  book  which  he  had  alwa3^s  with  him."  They  brought 
him  the  little  Testament  he  had  given  the  soldier  at  Toulon.  The 
first  fifteen  or  twenty  pages  had  been  torn  out,  but  on  the  inside 
of  the  cover  was  written,  "Received  at  Toulon  [with  the  date]„ 
despised — negledted — read — believed — and  found  salvation." 


11.  MAN. 


I.  MAN  IN  SIN. 


(l.)    CHARACTER  AND  EXTENT  OF  SIN, 


"No  Right  in  Me." 

220.  A  little  girl,  when  reproved  by  her  mother  for  some  fault, 
and  told  that  she  should  teach  her  little  brothers  to  do  right,  re- 
plied, ' '  How  can  I  do  right,  when  there  is  no  right  in  me  ? ' '  Did 
not  Paul  make  the  same  confession  in  Romans  7:18? 


The  Wrong  Foot  Forward. 

221,  An  abandoned  statue  remains  in  Philadelphia  as  a  legacy 
from  the  Centennial  Exhibition.  It  is  a  colossal  granite  statue 
of  a  soldier,  and  stands  in  front  of  Memorial  Hall.  The  Philadel- 
phia Press  says,  in  reference  to  it:  "It  has  always  been  a  matter 
of  amazement  why  it  was  not  removed  at  the  close  of  the  celebra- 
tion, or  a  formal  gift  of  it  made  to  the  city.  Perhaps  we  can 
enlighten  the  public  on  this  point.  Although  the  granite  is  a 
splendid  specimen  of  stone,  the  figure  has  a  serious  defeEl.  It 
represents  the  soldier  at  parade  rest.  Yet  the  artist  has  put  the 
right  foot  forward  instead  of  the  left.  This  destroys  the  value  of 
the  statue  as  a  work  of  art,  and  it  has  therefore  been  abandoned 
hy  the  owners.  Only  a  soldier,  however,  will  notice  the  defecfb, 
and  it  is  a  source  of  regret  that  it  is  so  marred. ' ' 

The  abandonment  of  the  statue  on  account  of  a  defedl  which 
would  not  be  noticed  by  ordinary  spe(5lators,  is  typical  of  the 
■condition  in  which  many  will  stand  at  the  final  judgment.  Up- 
right, honorable,  philanthropic  in  their  worldly  dealings,  yet 
101 


102 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


ruined  by  a  fatal  defe(5l:  their  attitude  toward  God  is  not  that 
which,  he  requires — a  repentant  sinner  justified  by  the  blood  of 
Jesus.    (Acts  4:  12.) 

And  too  man^-  religious  inquirers  in  this  world  situate  them- 
selves in  the  same  wa}'.  They  present  their  own  righteousness 
first — their  best  side  instead  of  their  worst.  No  one  ever  really 
comes  to  Christ  who  thus  puts  "the  wrong  foot  forward." 


The  Deceitful  Heart. 

222.  "After  all,  I  do  not  hate  God.  No,  sir;  you  will  not 
make  me  believe  that.  I  am  a  sinner,  I  know,  and  do  many 
wicked  things;  but  after  all  I  have  a  good  heart — I  don't  hate 
God. ' '  Such  was  the  language  of  a  prosperous  worldling.  He 
was  sincere,  but  sadU^  deceived. 

A  few  months  afterw^ard,  that  God  who  had  given  him  so  many 
good  things  crossed  his  path  in  an  unexpected  manner.  A  fear- 
ful freshet  swept  down  the  valley*,  and  threatened  destruction  to 
this  man's  large  flour-mill.  A  crowd  was  watching  it,  in  mo- 
mentary expeclation  of  seeing  it  fall,  while  the  owner,  standings 
in  the  midst  of  them,  was  cursing  God  to  his  face,  and  pouring- 
out  the  most  horrid  oaths. 

He  no  longer  doubted  that  he  hated  God.  But  nothing,  in  that 
hour  of  trial,  came  out  of  his  mouth  which  was  not  previously 
in  his  heart. 


Allegiance. 

223.  Mr.  Jones,  of  Tallam,  in  a  most  powerful  sermon,  ap- 
pealed thus  to  his  hearers :  "If  ^'ou  are  ser\-ants  of  Satan,  3'ou 
ought  to  stand  up  for  him  now  publich".  If  he  has  an3'  claim  to 
the  allegiance  of  3'our  souls,  3'ou  ought  to  acknowledge  him." 
Then,  in  his  own  powerful  wa}',  he  repeated  a  pra^-er  to  the  Evil 
One.  ' '  O  Prince  of  Pleasure,  thou  hast  promised  us  great  things — 
days  of  joj'and  merriment;  we  will  ser\'e  thee  faithfulh' to  the 
end,  and  take  our  chance  with  thee  at  the  last."  Then,  looking" 
at  his  hearers,  he  said,  "Let  all  who  are  followers  of  Satan,  say 
'  Amen. ' ' '  But  a  stillness,  as  of  death,  prevailed.  Then  he  turned 
to  the  other  side,  and  pra^-ed.  "O  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  thou  hast 
suftered  the  death  of  the  cross  for  us,  and  bidden  us  bear  our 
little  crosses  for  thee ;  we  will  follow  thee  faithfully  in  this  world 
through  good  and  evil  report."  Then  he  added,  "Let  all  who 
are  anxious  to  follow  Jesus,  say  *Amen.'"  The  effect  was  irre- 
sistible, and  a  chorus  of  amens  rose,  like  many  thunderings,  from 
the  whole  congregation. 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


103 


The  IvOST  Hammer. 

224,  A  relief  life-boat  was  built  at  New  London  thirteen 
years  ago.  While  the  workmen  were  busy  over  it,  one  man  lost 
his  hammer,  and  it  was  nailed  up  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat.  The 
boat  was  put  to  service,  and  every  time  it  rocked  on  the  waves, 
that  hammer  was  tossed  to  and  fro.  Little  by  little  it  wore  for 
itself  a  track,  until  it  had  worn  through  planking  and  keel,  down 
to  the  very  copper-plating,  before  it  was  found  out.  Only  that 
plate  of  copper  kept  the  boat  from  sinking.  It  seemed  a  very 
little  thing  in  the  start,  but  it  wrought  great  mischief.  So  it  is 
with  a  little  sin  in  the  heart. 


A  Merely  Moral  Liee. 

225,  An  Empress  of  Russia  once  had  a  palace  of  ice  built  for 
her.  It  was  very  beautiful,  but  very  cold.  Its  architecflure,  and 
furniture,  and  decorations  were  faultless,  and  splendid  to  look 
upon,  glittering  like  piled  jewels  in  the  winter  sun,  but  it  was 
utterly  comfortless — for  it  had  no  heat. 


Averaging  Matters  with  the  Lord. 

226.  A  man  who  prided  himself  on  his  morality,  and  ex- 
pedted  to  be  saved  by  it,  was  constantly  saying,  "I  am  doing 
pretty  well,  on  the  whole.  I  sometimes  get  mad,  and  swear,  but 
then  I  am  perfectly  honest.  I  work  on  the  Sabbath,  when  I  am 
particularly  busy;  but  I  give  a  good  deal  to  the  poor,  and  I  never 
was  drunk  in  my  life." 

This  man  hired  a  canny  Scotchman  to  build  a  fence  around  his 
pasture  lot.  He  gave  him  particular  diredlions.  In  the  evening, 
when  the  Scotchman  came  in  from  his  w^ork,  the  man  said: 
"Well,  Jock,  is  the  fence  built,  and  is  it  tight  and  strong  ?" 

"I  canna  say  it  is  all  tight  and  vStrong,"  Jock  replied;  "but  it's 
a  good  average  fence,  anyhow.  If  some  parts  are  a  little  weak, 
other  parts  are  extra  strong.  I  don't  know  but  I  left  a  little  gap 
here  and  there,  a  yard  or  so  wide;  but  then  I  made  up  for  it  by 
doubling  the  rails  on  each  side  of  the  gap.  I  dare  say  the  cattle 
will  find  it  a  good  fence  on  the  whole,  and  will  like  it,  though  I 
canna  just  say  that  it  is  perfect  in  every  part." 

' '  What ! ' '  cried  the  man,  not  seeing  the  point ;  '  *  Do  you  tell  me 
that  you  built  a  fence  around  my  lot  with  weak  places  and  gaps 
in  it  ?  Why,  you  might  as  well  have  built  no  fence  at  all !  If 
there  is  one  opening,  or  a  weak  place  where  an  opening  can  be 


104  THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 

made,  the  cattle  will  be  sure  to  find  it  and  go  througli.  Don't 
you  know,  man,  that  a  fence  must  be  perfe(ft,  or  it  is  worthless  ?" 

"I  used  to  think  so,"  replied  the  Scotchman ;  "but  I  hear  you 
talk  so  much  about  averaging  matters  with  the  Lord,  it  seemed 
to  me  we  might  try  it  with  the  cattle.  If  an  average  fence  will 
not  do  for  them,  I  am  afraid  an  average  character  will  not  do  in 
the  Day  of  Judgment. ' ' 


Belief  and  vSelf-Will. 

227.  A  keen,  graj'-eyed  millionaire  once  received  a  clergyman 
who  went  to  his  house  to  make  a  parochial  call  upon  a  member 
of  his  family,  who  was  accustomed  to  attend  church.  The  mill- 
ionaire was  not  himself  a  public  worshiper,  but  was  well  kno^Ti 
in  the  community  as  a  successful  and  honorable  man  of  business. 
He  welcomed  the  clergyman  cordially,  and  immediatelj^  entered 
into  lively  conversation.  The  clerg3^man  knew  his  man,  and  ap- 
preciated the  opportunity.  The  talk  drifted  naturall}-  and  easily 
into  the  subjedt  of  the  Christian  faith,  and  soon  came  upon  the 
Creed.  The  pracftical  advantage  and  use  of  the  doclrine  of  the 
Trinity  was  discussed.  When  at  the  point  of  the  personalit}'  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  his  special  ofiS.ce  as  the  giver  of  life,  the 
millionaire  suddenlj^  interrupted,  saying,  "I  don't  believe  that;  I 
don't  wajit  to  believe  it." 

"Pause  just  there,"  said  the  clerg^^man,  "and  make  a  note  of 
the  form  of  your  remark.  You  'don't  want  to  believe  it.'  There 
lies,  sir,  the  whole  secret  of  your  religious  life." 


"He. Sticks  to  it  So." 

228.  Perhaps  some  of  the  children  of  a  larger  growth  might 
use  with  profit  the  following  prayer,  at  least  its  spirit : 

A  little  fellow,  four  ^-ears  old,  pra3-ed  thus  for  himself: 
Lord,  bless  George,  and  make  him  a  good  bo3';  and  don't  let  him 
be  naughty  again,  never,  no,  never !    Because,  you  know,  when 
he  is  naughty,  he  sticks  to  it  so 


The  Wrong  Sinner. 

229.  Vice-President  Wilson,  in  rising  to  confess  Christ  for  the 
first  time,  said,  "I  have  not  shielded  m^^self  behind  infidelit3%  or 
that  poorest  of  all  excuses,  the  faults  of  professors."  Another 
man  once  said,  "I  have  been  looking  at  the  wrong  sinner." 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


105 


"That  Fei.i.ER  Down  TherH." 

230.  How  easy  it  is  to  see  the  sins  of  other  people.  Even  a 
child  can  do  that.  A  Boston  Sunday-school  superintendent  tells 
us  of  an  experience  of  his,  in  proof  of  this  truth.  One  Sunday 
he  found  in  his  school  a  class  of  urchins  recently  gathered  in 
from  the  street,  without  a  teacher  for  the  day;  so  he  took  them 
in  hand.  He  came  right  down  to  first  principles,  and  talked  of 
sin  and  salvation.  One  of  his  pointed  questions  was,  "Is  there 
any  sinner  in  this  class  ?"  Instantly  the  answer  came  from  one 
of  the  brightest  of  the  boys,  who  pointed  to  another  boy,  at  the 
end  of  the  seat,  and  said,  "Yes,  that  feller  down  there."  That 
b)oy  was  more  outspoken  than  he  would  have  been  if  he  had  been 
longer  in  the  school;  but  his  mode  of  judging  was  much  like  that 
of  those  long  under  Christian  training.  There  is  no  sorrow  like 
our  sorrow;  and  no  sin  like — "that  feller's  down  there." 


A  False  God. 

231.  That  excellent  minister.  Rev.  W.  Romaine,  was  once 
accosted  by  a  lady,  who  took  occasion  to  express  her  pleasure  in 
hearing  him  preach,  and  said  frankly  that  she  was  willing  to  re- 
ceive and  follow  his  teachings  with  the  exception  of  one  thing. 

"What  is  that.'*"  said  Mr.  Romaine. 

* '  You  said  we  mu^t  give  up  all  for  Christ.  I  cannot  give  up 
cards,''  said  she. 

"You  think  you  could  not  be  happy  without  them?" 
"No,  sir,  I  could  not." 

"Then,  madam,  they  are  your  God,  and  they  must  save  you," 
said  Mr.  Romaine. 


"Didn't  Want  to  be  Reached." 

232.  The  San  Francisco  Pacific  says  that  a  good  lady  of  that 
city,  who  did  much  for  foreign  missions,  was  taken  to  task  by  a 
smart  youth  of  her  acquaintance  for  her  interest  in  "barbarians 
ten  thousand  miles  away." 

"Why  don't  you  look  after  us  wild  young  men  at  home  ?"  he 
^aid. 

' '  I  would  like  to  reach  you  young  men  in  this  city,  and  do  you 
good,"  replied  the  lady,  "but  I  and  the  Christian  people  here 
find  ourselves  unable  to  bring  you  into  our  churches,  and  win 
you  to  the  Savior.  We  appeal  to  you ;  we  try  to  throw  good  in- 
fluences around  you;  we  invite  you  to  our  homes  and  to  our 


106 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


churches;  but  you  refuse  our  invitations,  and  go  off  to  your 
theaters,  and  balls,  and  clubs,  and  fast  company," 

"Well,  I  will  show  you  how  to  reach  us  young  men,"  was  the 
reply.  "You  need  not  spend  your  energies  on  the  heathen;  you 
can  save  us  3'oung  men  when  I  show  you  how  to  do  it." 

So,  when  this  3-oung  man  went  to  his  "club"  next  time,  he 
told  the  boys  about  this  good,  motherly  woman,  and  what  she 
wanted  to  do  if  they  would  tell  her  how.  Well,  they  smoked 
and  drank,  and  talked  it  over,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
"they  didn't  want  to  be  reached." 


Contentment  of  the  Unconverted. 

.  233.  A  captain  of  a  whale-ship  told  one  of  the  wretched  na- 
tives of  Greenland  that  he  sincerely  pitied  the  miserable  life  to 
which  he  was  condemned.  ' '  INIiserable ! ' '  exclaimed  the  savage ; 
' '  I  have  alwa^'s  had  a  fish-bone  through  my  nose,  and  plenty  of 
train-oil  to  drink ;  what  more  could  I  desire  ? ' ' 


Sinners  Who  Speak  WelIv  oe  Christ. 

234.  Pharnaces,  the  son  of  Mithridates,  the  king  of  Pontus,. 
sending  a  crown  to  Caesar  at  the  time  he  was  in  rebellion  against 
him,  Caesar  refused  the  present,  saying,  "Let  him  first  la}'^  down 
his  rebellion,  and  then  I  will  receive  his  crown." 


The  Cause  of  their  Parting. 

235*  A  husband  and  wife  had  parted,  and  had  for  years  been 
separated.  He,  on  several  occasions,  entreated  her  to  meet  him 
and  talk  over  their  differences  with  a  view  to  their  reconciliation. 
She  steadih^  declined  an  inter\aew,  and  would  not  enter  upon  the 
subjecft  of  their  alienation.  The  trouble  was  that  the  fault  from 
the  beginning  lay  with  her. 


"Seven  Years  AVithout  Jesus." 

236.  A  little  girl  stood  trembling,  weeping,  timidly  knock- 
ing at  the  door  of  a  minister's  study.  "Come  in,"  said  a 
cheerful  voice.  The  door-handle  slowly  turned,  and  there  she 
stood,  sobbing  with  emotion.  "What  is  the  matter,  my  dear 
child .^"  asked  the  sympathizing  pastor.    "Oh,  sir,"  was  the  re- 


RKVIVAI,  ANKCDOTKS. 


107 


ly,  **I  have  lived  seven  years  without  Jesus!"  She  had  just 
een  celebrating  her  seventh  birthday.  « 


Mocking  God. 

237,  A  minister  tells  the  following  story:  — 
"I  remember,  for  instance,  when  my  eldest  brother  (who,  many 
years  ago,  passed  to  his  rest,)  was  a  boy,  I  think  about  ten  years 
of  age,  he  was  at  a  prayer  meeting  one  evening,  to  which  there 
came  a  worldly,  scof&ng  infidel.  He  stood  at  the  door,  looking  at 
all  that  was  going  on,  through  his  eye-glasses,  sneering  at  every- 
thing. He  was  saying  all  kinds  of  wicked  and  frivolous  things 
to  his  friend  who  was  with  him,  when  my  little  brother  stole  up 
to  him,  and,  looking  up  into  his  face,  said,  '*Sir,  aren't  you 
afraid  to  mock  God,?"  The  man  went  away,  without  saying 
another  word.  He  could  not  rest,  but  became  more  and  more 
miserable.  Finally,  he  sought  God  and  the  pardon  of  his  sins, 
and  became  an  earnest  Christian," 


Spiritual  Bi^indness. 

238.  David  Rittenhouse,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  a  great  astron- 
omer. He  was  skillful  in  measuring  the  sizes  of  planets  and 
determining  the  position  of  the  stars.  But  he  found  that,  such 
was  the  distance  of  the  stars,  a  silk  thread  stretched  across  the 
glass  of  his  telescope  would  entirely  cover  a  star;  and  thus  a  silk 
fiber  appeared  to  be  larger  in  diameter  than  a  star.  Our  sun  is 
eight  hundred  and  eight3^-six  thousand  miles  in  diameter,  and 
yet,  seen  from  a  distant  star,  our  sun  could  be  covered,  hidden 
behind  a  thread  when  that  thread  was  stretched  across  the  tele- 
scope. Just  so  we  have  seen  some  who  could  not  see  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness,  because  some  thread  of  self-righteousness,  some 
trivial  earthly  pleasure,  or  passing  earthly  power,  hid  it  from 
their  vision. 


Insensibii^ity  to  Beauty. 

239»  A.  gardener  once  asked  permission  of  his  master  to 
sleep  in  the  stable.  "There  is  no  possibility  of  sleeping  in  the 
chamber  behind  the  greenhouse, ' '  said  he,  in  support  of  the  re- 
quest; "there  are  nightingales  there  which  do  nothing  but  guggle 
and  keep  up  a  noise  all  night."    Sinners  resent  the  music  of  the 


108 


THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


voice  of  the  Spirit  and  of  the  Church,  because  it  disturbs  their 
spiritual  sleep. 


Why  he  Did  not  see  Them. 

240.  **I've  been  in  India  for  many  a  year,  and  I  never  saw  a 
native  Christian  the  whole  time."  So  spake  a  colonel  on  board 
a  steamer  going  to  Bombay.  Some  days  after,  the  same  colonel 
was  telling  of  his  hunting  experiences,  y and  said  that  thirty 
tigers  had  fallen  to  his  rifle. 

"Did  I  understand  you  to  say  thirty,  colonel?"  asked  a  mis- 
sionary at  the  table. 

"Yes,  sir,  thirty,"  replied  the  officer. 

"Because,"  pursued  the  missionary,  explanatorily,  "I  thought 
perhaps  you  meant  three." 

"No,  sir,  thirty" — this  time  with  emphasis. 

"Well,  now,  that's  strange,"  said  the  missionary;  "I  have 
been  in  India  twenty- five  years,  and  I  never  saw  a  wild,  live 
tiger  all  the  while. ' ' 

"Very  likely  not,  sir,"  said  the  colonel;  "but  that's  because 
you  didn't  know  where  to  look  for  them." 

"Perhaps  it  was  so,"  admitted  the  missionary,  after  a  moment 
or  two  of  apparent  refle(5lion ;  * '  but  may  not  that  be  the  reason 
you  never  saw  a  native  convert,  as  you  affirmed  the  other  even- 
ing at  this  table  ? ' ' 


The  Mistrust  oe  Sin. 

241.  Dr.  Arnot,  of  Edinburgh,  once  climbed  to  a  garret  in  a 
tenement  house  to  give  a  poor  woman  money  to  pay  her  rent, 
but  could  not  obtain  admittance.  INIeeting  the  woman  the  next 
day,  he  told  her  of  his  coming,  and  said,  "I  suppose  you  were 
not  at  home."  "O,  yes,"  said  she,  "I  was  there,  and  heard  you 
coming ;  but  I  thought  it  was  the  landlord,  and  did  not  dare  to 
open  the  door." 


Straining  at  a  Gnat. 

242.    A  Neapolitan  shepherd  came  in  great  anguish  to  his 

Eriest.  "Father,  have  mercy  on  a  miserable  sinner.  It  is  the 
oly  season  of  Lent;  and  while  I  was  busy  at  my  work,  some 
whey,  spurting  from  the  cheese-press,  flew  into  my  moiith,  and, 
wretched  man!  I  swallowed  it."  "Have  you  no  other  sins  to 
confess?"  said  his  spiritual  guide.    "No,  I  do  not  know  that  I 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTEJS. 


109 


have  committed  any  other. '  *  ' '  There  are, ' '  said  the  priest, ' '  many 
robberies  and  murders  committed  from  time  to  time  on  your 
mountains,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  you  are  one  of  the  per- 
sons concerned  in  them."  '*Yes,"  replied  the  shepherd,  "lam; 
but  these  are  never  accounted  a  crime;  it  is  a  thing  pra(5liced  by 
us  all,  and  there  needs  no  confession  on  that  account." 


A  Confession. 

243.  A  lady  came  to  Charles  Wesley,  complaining  that  she 
was  the  chief  of  sinners,  the  worst  of  transgressors,  utterly  lost 
and  helpless.  "I  have  no  doubt,  madam,"  replied  he,  "that  you 
are  bad  enough."  She  instantly  flew  into  a  passion,  declaring 
that  she  was  no  worse  than  her  neighbors,  and  scolded  the 
preacher  as  a  slanderer.  Thus  confession  of  sin  may  often  prove 
insincere. 


The  Motive  in  Fai.se  Sanctity. 

244.  Melancfthon  tells  the  story  of  a  monk  who  walked  de- 
murely, looked  humble,  and  lived  very  stricftly  indeed ;  but  when, 
after  years,  he  was  ele(5led  abbot  of  the  monastery,  as  being  su- 
perior to  all  the  other  monks  in  holiness,  he  became  insufferably 
proud  and  arrogant,  showing  out  his  true  nature.  When  wonder 
was  expressed,  and  his  former  manner  of  life  referred  to,  he  coolly 
accounted  for  it  by  saying  that  he  had  looked  low  on  purpose  to 
see  if  he  could  find  the  keys  of  the  abbey.  All  that  time  he  had 
been  hunting  his  chance  for  the  chief  seat  and  seal  of  power  in 
the  monastery;  and  he  knew  what  game  to  play  in  order  to  get  it. 


Danger  op  Great  Riches. 

245.  When  the  steamer  Washington  was  burnt,  one  of  the 
passengers,  at  the  first  alarm  of  fire,  ran  to  his  trunk,  took  from 
it  a  large  amount  of  gold  and  silver  coin,  and  loading  his  pockets, 
rushed  on  deck  and  leaped  overboard.  The  gold  and  silver  in- 
stantly dragged  him  down  helpless  under  the  sea. 


A  Generai.  Desire. 

246*  A  teacher  had  been  relating  to  his  class  the  story  of  the 
rich  man  and  Lazarus,  when  he  asked,  "Now,  which  would  you 
rather  be,  boys,  the  rich  man,  or  Lazarus  ? ' ' 


110 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


One  boy  replied,  ' '  I  will  be  the  ricli  man  wbile  I  live,  and 
Lazarus  when  I  die." 

And  is  not  that  what  multitudes  are  trying  to  do  ?  They  want 
to  die  the  death  of  the  righteous  after  having  lived  the  life  of 
Dives. 


Not  Worse  than  His  FeIvI^ows. 

iS47.  The  ship  Britannia,  which  struck  on  the  rocks  off  the 
coast  of  Brazil,  had  on  board  a  large  consignment  of  Spanish 
dollars ;  in  the  hope  of  saving  some  of  them,  a  number  of  barrels 
were  brought  on  deck;  but  the  vessel  sank  so  fast,  that  the  only 
hope  for  life  was  in  taking  at  once  to  the  boats.  The  last  boat 
was  about  to  push  off",  when  a  midshipman  rushed  to  see  if  any 
one  was  still  on  board.  To  his  surprise,  there  sat  a  man  on  deck 
with  a  hatchet  in  his  hand,  with  which  he  had  broken  open 
several  of  the  casks  the  contents  of  which  he  was  now  heaping 
up  about  him. 

"What  are  you  doing?"  shouted  the  youth.  "Escape  for 
3^our  life!    Don't  you  know  the  ship  is  fast  going  to  pieces?" 

"The  ship  may,"  said  the  man;  "I  have  lived  a  poor  wretch 
all  my  life,  and  I  am  determined  to  die  rich. ' ' 

All  remonstrances  were  answered  only  by  another  flourish  of 
the  hatchet,  and  he  was  left  to  his  fate.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
ship  was  engulfed  in  the  waves. 

The  value  of  wealth  depends  upon  whether  it  is  used  as  an 
instrument  of  righteousness,  or  as  the  consolation  of  the  wicked. 


Not  ComeortabIvE  Yet. 

248.  A  highly  respedlable  and  wealthy  farmer  in  Connedli- 
cut  gives  the  following  as  his  experience :  * '  When  I  came  here 
to  settle,  about  forty  years  ago,  I  told  my  wife  I  wanted  to  be 
rich.  She  said  she  did  not  want  to  be  rich;  all  she  wanted  was 
enough  to  be  comfortable.  I  went  to  work  and  cleared  up  my 
land;  I've  worked  hard  ever  since,  and  got  rich — as  rich  as  I 
want  to  be.  Most  of  my  children  have  settled  about  me,  and 
they  have  all  got  farms — and  my  wife  ain't  comfortable  yet." 


The  Danger  oe  Educated  Peopee. 

249.  Conversing  with  a  lawyer,  on  one  occasion.  Dr.  Nettle- 
ton  said:  "I  have  often  thought  that  persons  in  your  situation — - 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


Ill 


persons  of  liberal  education  and  higli  standing-  in  society — are 
in  peculiar  danger  of  losing  their  souls;  and  for  this,  among 
other  reasons,  that  everybody  is  afraid  to  converse  with  them." 


The  Lost  Arab. 

250.  An  Arab  once  lost  his  way  in  a  desert.  His  provisions 
were  soon  exhausted.  For  two  days  and  two  nights  he  had  not 
a  morsel  to  eat.  He  began  to  fear  that  he  should  die  of  hunger. 
He  looked  eagerly,  but  in  vain,  aiong  the  level  sand  for  some 
caravan  of  travelers  from  whom  he  might  beg  some  bread. 

At  last  he  came  to  a  place  where  there  was  a  little  water  in  a 
well,  and  around  the  well's  mouth  the  marks  of  an  encampment. 
Some  people  had  lately  pitched  their  tents  there,  and  had  gathered 
them  up  and  gone  away  again.  The  star^dng  Arab  looked  around 
in  the  hope  of  finding  some  food  that  the  travelers  might  have 
left  behind.  After  searching  awhile,  he  came  upon  a  little  bag, 
tied  at  the  mouth,  and  full  of  something  that  felt  hard  and  round. 
He  opened  the  bag  with  great  joy,  thinking  it  contained  either 
dates  or  nuts,  and  expecting  that  with  them  he  should  be  able  to 
satisfy  his  hunger.  But  as  soon  as  he  saw  what  it  contained,  he 
threw  it  on  the  ground,  and  cried  out  in  despair,  "It  is  only 
pearls ! ' '    He  lay  down  in  the  desert  to  die. 


(2.)    RESULTS  OF  SIN. 


(a.)  /?i  This  Life. 


"Philip,  Thou  art  Mortai.." 

251.  The  ancient  Egyptians,  it  is  said,  had  a  skeleton  present 
at  their  feasts,  in  reverence  for  the  Angel  of  Death.  Prester  John 
kept  a  death's  head  upon  his  table,  conspicuous  over  all  the  dishes; 
and  the  king  of  Macedon  employed  a  boy  to  call  out  to  him  every 
morning  at  breakfast,  "Philip,  thou  art  mortal." 


The  Greatest  Street-Preacher. 

252.  Archbishop  Leighton,  returning  home  one  morning, 
was  asked  by  his  sister,  "Have  you  been  hearing  a  sermon?" 


112 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


*  *  I've  met  a  sermon, ' '  was  the  reply.  The  sermon  he  had  met  was 
a  corpse  on  its  way  to  the  grave ;  the  preacher  was  Death.  Greatest 
of  street-preachers ! 


A  MiiviviON  Dead  Men. 

253.  Xerxes  wept  to  think  that  his  vast  army  would,  in  a 
few  years,  be  only  a  million  dead  men. 


A  Question  oe  Time." 

254.  My  friend  had  gone  abroad  to  try  the  effedls  of  a  sea 
voyage  and  a  milder  air,  in  staying  the  insidious  disease  that 
seemed  to  be  sapping  her  young  life.  Meeting  her  sister  some 
time  after,  I  eagerly  asked  for  news  of  her. 

The  reply  came  sorrowfully,  while  the  mist  gathered  over  the 
eye,  and  there  was  a  mufQed  sob  in  the  voice,  "  It  is  only  a  ques- 
tion of  time." 

I  was  startled  at  the  information,  and  felt  a  sudden  heart-sink- 
ing. And  as  I  went  on  my  way,  I  kept  repeating  over  and  over 
to  myself,  "Only  a  question  of  time.    Only  a  question  of  time  I 

But  as  I  meditated,  it  occurred  to  me  that,  after  all,  this  was 
just  as  true  of  myself,  of  the  friend  from  whom  I  had  parted,  of 
all  around  me,  as  it  was  of  the  dear,  fading  invalid,  away  in  the 
South  of  France,  who  was  vainly  trying  to  gather  up  invigoration 
from  the  tempered  airs  of  the  soft  Mediterranean.  The  most  mo- 
mentous event  of  being,  next  to  adlual  birth  itself,  death,  is  as 
positively  and  inexorably  "only  a  question  of  time"  to  us  all,  as 
it  is  to  the  doomed  vidlim  lying  in  his  last  throe  of  mortal  agony  1 


Sudden  Death. 

•  person  in  Birmingham,  who  had  lived  in  the  negledl 
of  the  worship  of  God  and  of  the  reading  of  the  Bible,  was,  on  a 
Lord's  day,  sitting  at  the  fireside  with  his  family.  He  said  that 
he  would  read  a  chapter  in  the  Bible,  as  he  had  not  read  one  for  a 
long  time.  But,  alas!  he  was  disappointed;  it  was  too  late!  for 
in  the  very  acft  of  reaching  the  long  negledled  Book  from  the 
shelf,  he  sank  down,  and  immediately  expired! 


"I  Must  Leave  Mine." 

256.    Miss  G  was  one  day  visiting  an  aged  man,  a  friend 

of  her  father,  and  one  who  was  associated  with  him  in  early  life. 


REVIVAI.  ANE:ODOTKS, 


113^ 


Though  differing  widely  in  sentiment,  the  two  old  men  still  felt  a 

deep  interest  in  each  other.    Mr.  S  had  been  one  of  those  who 

run  after  the  world  and  overtake  it.  All  that  it  can  give,  he  had 
obtained.  Now  he  inquired  of  the  state  of  his  friend,  whom  he 
knew  to  be  in  circumstances  of  far  less  external  comfort  than 
himself.  As  he  listened  to  the  story  of  his  patience  in  suffering, 
and  of  the  cheerfulness  with  which  he  could  look  forward,  either 
to  a  longer  pilgrimage  in  this  world,  or  to  the  hour  of  death,  his 
conscience  applied  the  unexpressed  reproach,  and  he  exclaimed: 
**  Yes,  yes,  you  wonder  I  cannot  be  as  quiet  and  happy,  too;  but 
think  of  the  difference:  he  is  going  to  his  treasure,  and  I — I  must 
leave  mine." 


"He  IvEi^  it  Ai.Iv." 

257.  One's  wealth  must  all  be  parted  with  at  last.  Why  not 
put  it  all  now  where  it  will  draw  eternal  interest  ?  As  runs  the 
quaint  old  epitaph, 

**What  I  kept,  I  had; 
What  I  left,  I  lost; 
What  I  gave,  I  have.'' ^ 

A  gentleman  who  was  present  at  a  meeting  of  railroad  kings" 
in  New  York,  relates  this  incident : 

Before  proceeding  to  business,  while  awaiting  the  arrival  of 
some  diredlor  who  was  absent,  one  said  to  another,  in  a  loud  tone 

that  instantly  commanded  attention,  "  Have  you  heard  that  

is  dead  '  * 

"Why,  no;  you  surprise  me.  I  saw  him  on  the  streets  last 
week,  apparently  in  the  enjoyment  of  perfect  health;  when  did 
he  die.?" 

"He  died  day  before  yesterday." 

A  moment  of  silence  ensued,  and  one  of  the  gentlemen  said  to 
the  first  speaker,  "He  was  very  rich,  was  he  not  ? " 
"O,  yes,  very." 
*  *  How  much  did  he  leave  ? ' ' 

"//"(?  left  it  ally^*  was  the  answer,  uttered  with  a  deep,  solemn 
voice. 


Thoughts  on  Eternity. 

2c8«  When  the  noble  Russell  was  executed  as  a  martyr  to 
freedom,  he  handed  his  watch  to  a  friend  who  stood  beside  him 
on  the  scaffold,  "Take  this  watch,"  said  he,  "for  I  have  no 
more  to  do  with  time.    My  thoughts  now  are  only  about  eter- 

8 


114 


THK  GosPEi.  worke:r's  treasury. 


nity."  That  utterance  of  the  dying  martyr  is  a  word  in  season 
.for  us  all. 


On  the  Brink. 

259.  Passing  through  a  country  grave-yard  the  other  day,  an 
inscription  on  a  head-stone  struck  my  eye.  The  stone  was  by 
the  side  of  the  path,  where  every  one  could  see  it;  and  it  was 
placed  there  in  memory  of  a  young  man  who  died  at  the  age  of 
seventeen:  — 

Reader,  one  moment 

Stop  and  think, 
That  I  am  in  eternity, 

And  you  are  on  the  brink  !  " 

In  eternity!  A  young  man  only  seventeen  years  of  age  in 
eternity!  He  is  ''in  eternity,  a?id  yozi  are  on  the  brink.^^  Yes, 
though  you  may  be  young. 


A  Good  Motto. 

260.  Upon  the  walls  of  a  Catholic  institution  in~  Montreal, 
I  saw,  this  summer,  this  brief  line :  ' '  Nothing  is  long  except 
^eternity."  That  is  a  motto  for  every  pastor's  study,  and  for  the 
walls  of  every  dwelling. 


*'Oh,  That  I  Knew!" 

261.  During  the  preaching  of  the  funeral  sermon  of  a  man 
who  had  left  no  grounds  of  hope  for  his  salvation,  his  widow 
was  heard  to  exclaim  over  and  over  again,  "Oh,  that  I  knew! 
Oh,  that  I  knew ! ' '  The  pastor  visited  her  the  next  day,  and  still 
she  went  over  the  same  sad  words,  '*Oh,  that  I  knew!  Oh,  that 
I  knew  where  the  soul  of  my  husband  is ! " 


**Ma]vima,  are  You  a  Christian?" 

262.    An  influential  lady,  the  wife  of  a  promising  lawyer  in 

C  ,  who  had  been  under  deep  convidtion  for  several  days,  gave 

the  following  account  at  our  jDrayer  meeting  of  her  conversion: — • 

"  Last  evening  my  little  girl  came  to  me,  and  said,  '  Mamma, 
are  you  a  Christian?' 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


115 


*"No,  Fannie,  I  am  not.' 

"  She  turned  and  went  awa}^  and,  as  stie  walked  off,  I  heard  her 
say,  'Well,  if  mamma  isn't  a  Christian,  I  don't  want  to  be  one.' 
And  I  tell  you,  my  dear  friends,  it  went  right  to  my  heart,  and 
then  and  there  I  tried  to  give  myself  up  to  Christ." 

Mother  who  reads  this,  in  the  language  of  that  little  child: 

Mamma,  are  you  a  Christian?" 


263*  While  Rev.  Orson  Parker,  the  well-knowTi  evangelist, 
was  holding  a  meeting  at  Tunbridge,  Vt.,  a  man  arose  and  de- 
clared his  purpose  to  be  a  Christian.  Pie  said:  "Last  stpring  my 
brother  Joseph  was  a£Q.i(5led  with  a  fatal  disease,  and  came  back 
to  the  old  homestead  to  die.  When  he  was  very  low,  I  went  to 
his  room,  where  he  lay  on  his  bed  alone,  and  he  turned  and  said, 
'Francis,  won't  you  pray  with  me  once  before  I  die?'  Oh,  if  I 
had  been  a  Christian,  and  had  pra3xd  for  my  brother,  I  would 
have  given  all  I  was  worth.  I  cried,  but  could  not  pray.  Now, 
as  I  think  of  him,  I  can  see  that  pale  face,  that  anxious  look ;  the 
most  vivid  remembrance  I  have  of  him  is  that  look.  No  other 
thing  could  he  have  asked  of  me  that  I  would  not  have  done." 


264.  I  went  once  with  a  friend  into  his  garden,  and,  observ- 
ing in  one  part  of  it  a  plentiful  crop  of  a  very^  troublesome  weed,  I 
asked  him  how  he  came  to  have  so  much  of  it.  He  said:  "My 
neighbor  was  absent  from  his  house  three  months  last  year,  and 
let  his  garden  run  wild;  it  was  just  at  the  time  when  that  par- 
ticular weed  was  running  to  seed,  and  the  wind  blew  the  downy 
things  over  here.  It  would  have  paid  me  to  have  hired  a  man  to 
clean  his  garden  for  him,  but  then,  you  see,  I  did  not  think  of  it 
in  time."  So,  be  sure,  if  we  in  the  Church  allow  evils  in  the 
community  to  go  on  unchecked,  the  seeds  that  spring  from  them 
will  blow  over  into  our  own  garden,  and  produce  there  confusion 
and  every  evil  work. 


He  Could  not  Pray. 


The  Neighbor's  Weeds. 


Staking  His  Little  Giri.. 


265.  A  father,  living  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa,  who  had  lost 
everything  at  the  gaming  table,  while  under  the  influence  of 


116 


THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


liquor  proposed  to  stake  his  little  girl  on  ttie  result  of  tlie  game 
against  a  certain  sum  of  money,  hoping  thereby  to  regain  his 
lost  fortune.  The  game  was  played  and  lost,  and  the  child  was 
transferred  to  the  winner. 

Such  instances  illustrate  the  infatuation  which  leads  men  ta 
trifle  their  very  souls  away.  The  old  legends  of  human  beings 
selling  themselves  to  Satan,  only  dramatized  a  fearful  spiritual 
faa. 


The  InpideI/'s  Ideai,  Man. 

266.  Says  a  missionary  in  Burmah:  "These  modem  infidels 
who  dream  of  perfedlion  if  they  can  only  wipe  out  all  systems  of 
religion,  might  find  a  splendid  field  here,  all  cultivated  to  their 
hands.  I  am  now  surrounded  by  about  three  hundred  souls, 
men,  women,  and  children,  entirely  free  from  all  religion.  They 
have  no  God,  no  temple,  no  liturgy,  no  holy  day,  no  prayers.  In 
their  domestic  habits  they  are  free  from  all  conventional  rules. 
They  are  very  poor,  too ;  have  no  house,  no  garden,  no  cultivated 
field,  no  domestic  animals  but  dogs.  I  never  saw  such  abjedt 
poverty,  such  an  entire  destitution  of  all  the  comforts  of  life." 


Punishment  Sometimes  DeivAyed. 

267.  There  is  a  story  of  a  murderer  who,  just  after  his  crime, 
went  to  sleep  under  a  rotten  wall  at  night,  but  had  a  vision  pre- 
sented to  him  to  bid  him  awake  and  begone,  for  fear  of  further 
danger,  which  he  did,  and  presently  the  wall  fell.  The  murderer 
thereupon  took  comfort  to  himself  that  Providence  favored  his 
deed. 

The  night  following,  he  had  another  vision,  and  heard  a  voice 
saying :  *  *  Wretch !  thinkest  thou  that  I  care  for  wicked  men  ? 
No ;  I  would  not  have  thee  die  sleeping,  for  I  have  reserved  thee 
for  a  halter  whereby  thou  shalt  end  thy  days  with  public  shame 
and  disgrace."    And  so  it  happened. 

Full  Divine  punishment  is  not  infli(5led  all  at  once. 


The  Wages  oe  Sin  is  Death. 

268.  They  who  will  not  give  ear  at  all  to  the  warnings^  of 
God  and  the  teachings  of  his  Son,  are  certain  by  and  by  to  wish 
they  had. 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


117 


An  eminent  minister  preached  in  the  corridor  of  a  penitentiary 
from  the  words,  "The  wages  of  sin  is  death;  but  the  gift  of  God 
is  eternal  life,"  etc.,  and  afterward  conversed  briefly  with  the 
convidts.  Coming  to  a  white-haired  old  man  in  one  of  the  cells, 
he  asked  kindly: — 

*'My  aged  friend,  how  came  you  here  ?" 

"By  not  minding  your  text,"  replied  the  prisoner.  *'My 
mother  told  me  what  the  end  would  be,  and  now  I  see  it." 


"The  Wrath  op  God." 

269.  Two  scoffers  went  out  from  a  religious  meeting  in  a 
Massachusetts  village,  where  the  theme  had  been,  "The  cup  full 
of  the  mixture,"  which  God's  vintage  pours  out— a  meeting  in 
which  they  had  been  making  disturbance.  Entering  a  drinking 
saloon,  they  asked  for  liquor.  "What  will  you  have.f*"  The 
holder  of  the  two  blasphemers  replied,  "I'll  take  a  glass  of  the 
Wrath  of  God  ! ' '  He  took  the  liquor  that  was  poured  out  for 
liim,  drank  it,  and  fell  dead  on  the  floor.  The  incident  is  remem- 
hered  there  to  this  day.  The  menaces  of  Divine  wrath  rarely 
melt  an  obdurate  heart,  yet  they  remain  ineffaceable  fa(5ls.  He 
who  is  a  God  of  love,  is  no  less  a  consuming  fire. 


A  Troubled  Conscience. 

270.  Rev.  D.  O.  Darling  relates  the  following  incident:  One 
day,  in  a  sermon,  he  described  a  wholly  imaginative  charadter. 
The  next  day  a  man  whom  he  had  never  seen  before  called  to  ask 
who  had  been  giving  him  the  history  of  his  life.  Mr.  Darling 
answered,  "No  one.  I  never  heard  of  you  before."  But  the  man 
would  not  believe  him,  saying  that  he  could  not  have  given  so 
accurate  a  description  of  his  case  had  he  not  had  some  knowledge 
of  him.  He  at  last  threatened  violence  because  the  minister 
would  not  disclose  the  name  of  the  supposed  informant. 


"De  Old  Feller's  Comin'." 

271.  A  skeptical  young  invalid  had  a  strange  experience. 
Unknown  to  him  the  chimney  was  being  cleaned,  and  the  sweeps, 
having  completed  their  work,  were  descending.  On  their  return 
the  younger  inadvertently  took  the  division  that  led  to  the  room 


118 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


of  the  invalid,  who,  having  heard  something  unnatural  in  that 
direction,  had  b}'  this  time  raised  himself  on  his  elbow  and  fixed 
his  e\-es  on  the  fire-place,  fearfuilj^  and  impatiently  awaiting  the 
consequence.  To  his  astonishment  and  horror,  like  some  unbid- 
den and  unwelcome  guest,  down  came  what  he  supposed  to  be  a 
visitant  from  the  nether  regions.  The  hero  of  the  scraper,  not 
perceiving  his  mistake,  and  wondering  what  detained  his  com- 
panion, cast  an  inquisitive  look  up  the  chimnej^  and  exclaimed, 
"Hollo,  old  fellow,  is  3-0U  comin'?"  "What!"' said  the  infidel, 
"are  there  an}' more  of  you?"  "0_,  3'es,  master,  de  old  feller's 
just  behind,"  replied  the  sooty.  This  was  too  much  to  bear,  and 
the  3-oung  skeptic  sprang  from  his  couch,  and  rushing  down 
stairs,  called  loudh^  and  eamesth'  for  protection,  declaring  that 
the  little  devil  was  upstairs,  and  the  old  one  just  coming. 

\Mien  3'ou  see  a  man  usin^  intoxicating  drinks  in  a  moderate 
way,  give  the  alarm;  for  the  little  devil  is  already  down  the  chim- 
ney, and  probably  the  "old  feller's  just  behind." 


"xIloxe  with  God." 

272.  "I  will  give  3'ou  ten  shillings,"  said  a  man  to  a  profane 
swearer,  "if  3'ou  will  go  into  the  village  grave-3'ard  at  twelve 
o'clock  to-night,  and  swear  the  same  oaths  you  have  uttered,  when 
3-0U  are  alone  with  God."  "Agreed,"  said  the  man;  "an  easy 
wa}-  to  make  ten  shillings."  "AVell,  come  to-morrow,  and  say 
3-011  have  done  it,  and  3'ou  shall  have  the  mone3'."  Midnight 
came.  It  was  a  night  of  great  darkness.  As  he  entered  the 
cemetery-,  not  a  sound  was  heard;  all  was  still  as  death.  The 
gentleman's  words  came  to  his  mind.  "Alone  with  God!"  rang 
in  his  ears.  He  did  not  dare  to  utter  an  oath,  but  fled  from  the 
place,  crj'ing,  ' '  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner ! ' ' 


The  Furies  of  Remorse. 

273,  There  is  a  storv'  of  Al  Montaser,  the  parricide,  that  one 
da3-,  while  he  was  admiring  a  beautiful  painting  of  a  man  on 
horseback  wearing  a  crown,  he  asked  the  meaning  of  the  Persian 
inscription  written  underneath  it,  and  was  told  that  it  read:  — 

"I  am  Shiun3-eh,  the  son  of  Kosree,  who  murdered  m3'  father, 
and  possessed  the  crown  onl3^  six  months." 

INIontaser  turned  awa3-,  deadl3-  pale.  From  that  time  frightful 
dreams  broke  his  rest ;  "the  furies  of  remorse  for  his  own  murder- 


r:Bvivai.  anecdotes. 


119 


ous  deed  pursued  him,  creating  phantoms  before  his  eyes,  till 
they  literally  terrified  him  to  death. 

"Had  Zimri  peace,  who  slew  his  master  ? " 


An  Kvie  Conscience. 

274.  When  Professor  Webster  was  awaiting  his  trial,  he 
brought  against  his  fellow-prisoners  the  charge  of  insulting  him 
through  the  walls  of  his  cell,  and  screaming  to  him,  ' '  You  are  a 
bloody  man ! ' '  On  examination  it  was  found  that  the  charge  was 
wholly  groundless,  and  that  these  accusing  voices  were  imagi- 
nary, being  but  the  echo  of  a  guilty  conscience. 


"Afraid  to  Sleep  Alone." 

275.  A  gentleman  who  was  spending  the  winter  in  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  was  surprised  one  evening  by  an  invitation, 
from  a  fellow-guest  at  the  hotel  where  he  lodged,  to  pass  the 
night  with  him  in  his  room,  and  share  his  bed. 

He  declined,  and  then  the  man  urged  his  request  on  the  score 
of  kindness,  confessing  that  he  was  ''afraid  to  sleep  alone. 

The  gentleman  consented,  and  retired  with  him  to  his  room. 
He  slept  but  little,  however,  for  his  bed-fellow  was  uneasy,  and 
tossed  and  muttered  in  dreams,  and  once  in  the  middle  of  the 
night  he  started  up,  crying  out,  "  The  avenger  of  blood  is  after 
me  I ' '  and  then  cowered  down  shivering  under  the  bed-clothes. 

He  was  a  duelist,  who  had  "killed  his  man." 


The  Hell  of  a  Guilty  Conscience. 

276.  Flaccus,  the  cruel  Roman  persecutor  of  the  Jews,  after 
Caligula  had  sent  him  into  exile,  suffered  the  hell  of  a  guilty 
conscience.  If  he  heard  a  soft  step  he  thought  it  was  some  one 
stealing  to  smite  him  unawares,  or  if  a  hasty  step  it  was  some 
one  coming  quickly  to  kill  him ;  if  men  spoke  roughly  to  him  he 
quaked  with  fear,  or  if  gently  and  kindly  he  imagined  it  wa§  a 
plot  to  beguile  him ;  if  they  fed  him  sparingly  it  was  to  starve 
him,  or  if  luxuriously  and  bountifully  it  was  to  fat  him  like  an 
ox  for  the  slaughter.  His  uneasy  soul  discovered  retribution  and 
death  in  every  sign  and  sound. 


120 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


(b.)  In  Death. 


A  Death-Bed  oe  Horror. 

277.  Rev.  M,  C.  Pearson,  of  Kansas,  tells  of  a  lady  who,  in 
one  of  his  meetings,  was  under  pungent  convidtion,  being  moved 
to  tears,  but  obstinately  refused  to  yield.  The  meeting  ended, 
and  she  went  into  a  hard  state  of  mind,  insensible  to  all  the 
claims  of  religion.  Some  two  years  later  she  was  taken  fatally 
ill,  and  during  the  last  hours  of  her  life  she  raved  incessantly, 
crying :  ' '  The  place  where  I  am  going  is  so  dark,  so  dark  1  It 
is  hell,  all  hell!"  Seizing  her  husband  by  the  arm,  she  cried, 
**I  am  in  hell,  and  you  are  to  blame!"  Mr.  Pearson  was  asked 
to  pray,  but  he  could  not.  He  was  impressed  that  the  sin  unto 
death  had  been  committed,  for  which  there  is  no  forgiveness. 
And  so  she  died  in  a  mental  distress  that  gives  us  a  passing 
glimpse  of  the  tortures  of  the  lost. 


*'IF  I  C0U1.D  ONEY  See  my  Mother!" 

278,  "If  I  could  only  see  my  mother!"  Again  and  again 
was  the  cry  repeated.  The  young  sailor,  a  second  mate,  lay  in 
his  narrow  bed,  his  eyes  glazing,  his  limbs  stiffening,  his  breath 
failing.  An  old  sailor  sat  by,  the  Bible  in  his  hand,  from  which 
he  had  been  reading.  He  bent  over  the  young  man  and  asked 
him  why  he  was  so  anxious  to  see  his  mother  he  had  so  willfully 
left.  "Oh,  that's  the  reason,"  cried  the  dying  sailor,  in  anguish; 
"I've  nearly  broken  her  heart,  and  I  can't  die  in  peace.  She  was 
a  good  mother  to  me — oh,  so  good  a  mother.  She  bore  every- 
thing from  her  wild  boy,  and  once  she  said,  *  My  'son,  when  you 
come  to  die,  you  will  remember  this.'  Oh,  if  I  could  only  see 
my  mother. ' '  He  never  saw  his  mother.  He  died  with  that  cry 
on  his  lips,  as  many  a  one  has  died  who  has  slighted  the  mother 
who  loved  him. 


A  Nurse's  Testimony. 

279.  A  Christian  gentleman  was  taken  severely  ill  in  Paris 
while  on  a  journey.  The  case  was  critical,  and  the  physician  in- 
sisted that  good  nursing  alone  would  save  his  life,  recommending 
a  nurse  of  great  skill  who  was  in  great  demand.  Fortunately  she 
was  at  home,  and  on  his  stating  his  errand,  she  said,  ' '  Before  I 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


121 


■consent  to  undertake  the  case,  permit  me  to  ask  you  a  singular 
question.  Is  your  friend  a  Christian  The  friend  replied: 
* '  Yes,  indeed  he  is, —  a  Christian  in  the  highest  and  best  sense 
of  the  term.  But  why  do  you  ask  the  question?"  "I  am  the 
nurse  that  attended  Voltaire  in  his  last  illness,"  she  answered; 
"and  for  all  the  wealth  of  Europe  I  would  never  see  another 
infidel  die." 


Changing  Gods. 

28o.  Saunderson,  who  was  a  great  admirer  of  Sir  Isaac  New- 
ton's talents,  and  who  made  light  of  his  religion,  in  health,  was, 
nevertheless,  heard  to  say  in  dismal  accents  on  his  dying-bed, 
"God  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  have  mercy  on  me!"  Why  this 
changing  of  gods  in  a  dying  hour  ? 


"Can't  Find  the  Brake." 

281.  It  is  said  that  Gordon,  the  celebrated  driver  on  the  Pa- 
cific Coast,  was  no  less  known  for  his  profaneness  than  for  his 
skill  in  driving.  His  end  was  dreadful.  In  the  delirium  of  death 
he  thrust  out  his  feet  and  clutched  at  the  bed-clothes.  When 
asked  the  cause  of  his  trouble,  he  replied,  "Oh,  I  am  going  down 
a  terrible  grade,  and  can't  find  the  brake." 


A  Royai.  Dying-Bed. 

282*  Charles  IX.  of  France,  in  his  youth,  had  humane  and 
tender  sensibilities.  The  fiend  who  had  tempted  him  was  the 
mother  who  had  nursed  him.  When  she  first  proposed  to  him 
the  massacre  of  the  Huguenots,  he  shrunk  from  it  with  horror. 
"No,  no,  madam !  They  are  my  loving  subjedls."  Then  was  the 
critical  hour  of  his  life.  Had  he  cherished  that  natural  sensitive- 
ness to  bloodshed,  St.  Bartholomew's  Eve  would  never  have  dis- 
graced the  history  of  his  kingdom,  and  he  himself  would  have 
escaped  the  fearful  remorse  which  crazed  him  on  his  death-bed. 
To  his  physician  he  said,  in  his  last  hours:  "Asleep  or  awake, 
I  see  the  mangled  forms  of  the  Huguenots  passing  before  me. 
They  drip  with  blood.  They  make  hideous  faces  at  me.  They 
point  at  their  open  wounds  and  mock  me.  Oh!  that  I  had  spared 
at  least  the  little  infants  at  the  breast."    Then  he  broke  out  in 


122 


THE  gospe:i.  worker's  treasury. 


agonizing  cries  and  screams.  Bloody  sweat  oozed  from  the  pores 
of  his  skin.  His  was  one  of  the  few  cases  in  history  which  con- 
firm the  possibility  of  the  phenomenon  which  attended  our  Lord's 
anguish  in  Gethsemane.  That  was  the  fruit  of  resisting,  years 
before,  the  recoil  of  his  youthful  conscience  from  the  extreme 
of  guilt. 


The  Peace  oe  God. 

283.  A  poor  soldier  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Waterloo.  His  companion  conveyed  him  to  some  distance,  and 
laid  him  down  under  a  tree.  Before  he  left  him,  the  dying  soldier 
entreated  him  to  open  his  knapsack  and  take  out  his  pocket  Bible, 
and  read  to  him  a  small  portion  of  it  before  he  died.  When  asked 
w^hat  passage  he  should  read,  he  desired  him  to  read  John  14:  27. 
"Now,"  said  he,  "I  die  happy.  I  desire  to  have  peace  with  God, 
and  I  possess  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding." 
A  little  while  after,  one  of  his  ofi&cers  passed  him,  and  seeing- 
him  in  such  an  exhausted  state,  asked  him  how  he  did.  He  said, 
' '  I  die  happy,  for  I  enjoy  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  un- 
derstanding, ' '  and  then  expired.  The  ofi&cer  left  him  and  went 
into  the  battle,  where  he  was  soon  after  mortally  wounded.  When 
surrounded  by  his  brother  officers,  full  of  anguish  and  dismay, 
he  cried  out:  "Oh!  I  would  give  ten  thousand  worlds,  if  I  had 
them,  that  I  possessed  that  peace  which  gladdened  the  heart  of 
a  d3dng  soldier  whom  I  saw  lying  under  a  tree;  for  he  declared 
that  he  possessed  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understand- 
ing. I  know  nothing  of  that  peace !.  I  die  miserable !  for  I  die 
in  despair ! ' ' 


"The  Price  oe  My  Soue." 

284.  A  young  lady  who  had  been  attending  some  revival 
meetings,  and  had  become  convi(5ted  of  sin,  was  induced  by  her 
worldly  parents  to  attend  a  ball,  by  the  promise  of  a  fine  dress  and 
jewelry.  Her  convictions  vanished,  and  her  heart  grew  cold. 
Within  two  weeks  she  took  sick,  and  soon  was  beyond  recovery. 
She  tried  to  think  of  her  soul,  but  she  could  not.  She  had  her 
rich  dress  spread  out  upon  the  table,  and.  the  costly  jewels  placed 
beside  it,  and  sending  for  her  parents,  pointed  to  them  with  her 
fevered  hand,  and  uttered  these  dreadful  words :  ' '  There  is  the 
price  of  my  soul !  I  have  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  he  has 
left  me. ' '  And  in  darkness  that  young  creature  sank  into  eternity, 
the  vic5lim  of  her  parents'  worldliness. 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


123 


Death-Bed  Repentance. 

285.  It  was  an  Ohio  man,  wlio,  when  a  terrible  storm  set  in, 
one  night,  rushed  into  the  house  of  a  neighbor  and  cried  out: 
"Jones,  this  is  the  ending  up  of  the  earth !"  "I'm  afraid  so !  I'm 
afraid  so  !  "  was  the  reply.  ' '  And  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  "  Make 
our  peace  with  heaven  ! ' '  The  wind  blew  still  stronger,  the  house 
began  to  shake,  and  the  excited  man  exclaimed,  "Jones,  you 
lost  five  bushels  of  wheat  last  fall."  "Yes."  "And  you  have 
your  suspicions  ?"  "I  have.  The  man  who  took  my  wheat  had 
better  own  up. "  " Can  you  forgive  him  ? "  "I  can. ' '  * '  Well — ' ' 
Here  the  wind  suddenly  dropped,  and,  after  a  look  through  the 
window,  the  conscience-stricken  man  turned  and  finished:  "  Yes, 
if  I  ever  meet  him,  I'll  advise  him  to  call  around." 


(c.)  In  Eternity. 


Where  wii.1.  You  Be?" 

286.  An  irreligious  man,  of  rough  manners,  called  at  a  min- 
ister's house  in  an  unseasonable  hour,  to  colle(5l  a  bill.  "I  was 
going  away  to  be  gone  some  time,"  he  said,  "and  I  thought 
maybe  I  wouldn't  find  you  when  I  got  back.  Ministers  don't 
always  stay  in  one  place,  you  know. ' ' 

The  minister  paid  him,  and  taking  a  text  from  his  words,  said: 
"No,  Dan;  we  are  here  one  day  and  away  the  next:  and  finally 
we  must  all  go  away  and  never  come  back.  Where  will  you  be, 
Dan,  when  you've  reached  the  end  of  that  last  long  journey  ?" 

The  man  went  away  without  answering  the  question ;  but  it 
troubled  him,  until  it  became  the  means  of  his  conversion. 


"Where  Shai.l  I  Alight?" 

287.  A  student  in  Union  College  was  invited  to  go  and  hear 
a  certain  preacher,  but  refused.  His  friend  awakened  his  curios- 
ity by  a  remark  about  the  curious  form  of  the  building,  and  he 
went  to  the  church,  but  paid  no  attention  to  the  services.  Just 
as  the  preacher  was  about  closing  his  address,  the  young  man 
looked  out  into  the  church-yard.  One  of  the  last  leaves  of  autumn 
hung  trembling  in  the  breeze.  That  leaf  caught  his  attention. 
Gazing  at  it,  he  observed  it  to  tremble ;  presently  its  hold  on  the 


4 


124  THE  GOSPEly  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 

tree  was  broken.  As  a  flash,  of  lightning,  the  sermon  of  the  leaf 
struck  his  spirit.  "Kmblem  of  my  sonl!"  he  almost  exclaimed; 
' '  I  shall  soon  lose  my  hold  on  life,  and  go  down  like  that  leaf. 
But  where  shall  I  alight?"  He  soon  was  converted,  and  ever 
after  rejoiced  in  the  falling  leaves  of  autumn,  one  of  which  had 
been  a  preacher  of  righteousness  to  his  soul. 


"What  wili.  You  Say,  Sir?" 

288.  While  Hopu,  a  young  Sandwich  Islander,  was  in  this 
country,  he  spent  an  evening  in  a  company  where  an  infidel  law- 
yer tried  to  puzzle  him  with  difficult  cLU^stions.  At  length  Hopu 
said:  "I  am  a  poor  heathen  boy.  It  is  not  strange  that  my  blun- 
ders in  English  should  amuse  you.  But  soon  there  will  be  a 
larger  meeting  than  this.  We  shall  all  be  there.  They  will  ask 
us  all  one  question,  namely,  'Do  you  love  the  lyord  Jesus  Christ?' 
Now,  sir,  I  think  I  can  say  'Yes.'    What  will  you  say,  sir?" 

When  he  had  stopped,  all  present  were  silent.  At  length  the 
lawyer  said  that  as  the  evening  was  far  gone,  they  had  better  con- 
clude it  with  prayer,  and  proposed  that  the  native  should  pray. 
He  did  so;  and  as  he  poured  out  his  heart  to  God,  the  lawyer 
could  not  conceal  his  feelings.  Tears  started  from  his  eyes,  and 
lie  sobbed  aloud.  All  present  wept,  too,  and  when  they  separated, 
the  words,  "What  will  you  say,  sir  ?"  followed  the  lawyer  home, 
and  did  not  leave  him  till  they  brought  him  to  the  Savior. 


JUGGI.ING  WITH  A  SOUI.. 

289*  A  German,  coming  to  this  country,  concentrated  all  his 
property  in  one  large  and  beautiful  diamond.  On  board,  he 
juggled  with  some  coins  and  vSurprised  the  passengers.  Finally, 
m  his  vanity,  he  took  out  his  diamond,  stepped  to  the  edge  of  the 
ship,  and  threw  up  his  jewel  and  caught  it.  In  vain,  his  fellow- 
passengers  protested,  and  advised,  and  warned;  still  he  threw 
up  his  jewel,  and  bade  them  be  of  good  cheer, — his  jewel  was 
safe.  At  last,  it  slipped  through  his  fingers  and  fell  into  the 
sea,  and  he  was  ruined! 


The  Greater  Fooi^. 

290.  A  great  man  once  presented  his  clownish  servant  with 
a  valuable  cane,  on  condition  that  he  should  give  it  in  turn  to 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


125 


the  next  person  he  met  who  was  a  greater  fool  than  himself. 
Not  long  afterw^ard  the  great  man  fell  mortally  sick,  and  sent  for 
his  physician.  The  do(5tor  did  all  he  could  for  him,  but  in  vain. 
Then  he  sent  in  all  haste  for  his  lawyer  to  draw  up  his  will, 
lyastly,  when  the  lawyer  had  finished  his  work,  he,  for  form's 
sake,  and  to  quiet  his  family,  sent  for  the  minister.  The  clown 
noted  the  order  of  these  preparations,  and,  seeing  that  the  great 
man  ranked  his  soul  last  on  the  list,  and  delayed  to  qualify  for 
another  world  until  he  was  nearly  dead,  drew  his  own  infer- 
ence. Hastening  to  his  garret,  he  brought  the  walking  stick, 
and  laying  it  on  his  dying  master's  bed,  said  with  emphasis, 
' '  There,  take  back  the  cane. ' ' 


"And  Then?" 

"O,  if  I  were  lucky  enough  to  call  this  estate  mine,  I 
should  be  a  happy  fellow ! "  said  a  young  man.  "And  then?" 
asked  a  friend.  "Why,  then  I'd  pull  down  the  old  house  and 
build  a  palace,  have  lots  of  prime  fellows  round  me,  keep  the  best 
wines,  and  the  finest  horses  and  dogs  in  the  country."  "And 
then?"  "Then  I'd  hunt,  and  ride,  and  smoke  and  drink,  and 
keep  open  house,  and  enjoy  life  gloriously."  "And  then?" 
"Why,  then,  I  suppose,  like  other  people,  I  should  grow  old  and 
not  care  so  much  for  these  things. ' '  * '  And  then  ?  "  "  Why,  then, 
I  suppose,  in  the  course  of  nature,  I  should  leave  all  these  pleas- 
ant things,  and,  well,  yes — die."  "And  then?"  "O,  bother 
your  '  thens ' ;  I  must  be  off. ' '  Many  years  after,  the  friend  was 
accosted  with,  "God  bless  you!  I  owe  my  happiness  to  you!" 
"How?"  "By  two  words  spoken  in  season  long  ago — 'And 
then?'" 


An  Unwise  but  Frequent  Choice. 

292.  A  Russian  ofiicial  had  drawn  his  semi-annual  salary  from 
the  state  exchequer.  It  was  paid  him  in  one  bank-note  of  a  large 
denomination.  On  his  way  home  he  purchased  for  a  few  pennies 
a  few  mellow  apples  for  his  little  boy,  five  years  old.  Upon  his 
arrival  home,  in  the  presence  of  his  wife,  the  ofl&cial  presented 
both  the  bank-note  and  the  apples  to  his  son,  offering  to  allow 
him  to  seledl  one  of  the  two. 

The  father  took  pains  to  explain  to  his  son  that  the  bank-note 
could  purchase  several  ship-loads  full  of  apples.  But  the  apples  in 
hand  were  indeed  mellow  and  delicious.  ' '  What  will  you  take  ? ' ' 
said  the  fond  father. 


126 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


The  boy  chose  the  red-cheeked  apples  and  immediately  began 
to  consume  them. 

How  natural  it  is  for  men  to  prefer  present  gratifications  to  the 
greatest  future  good.  Offer  them  heaven  at  the  cost  of  their  luxu- 
ries, and  they  go  away  sorrowful. 


"Better  Lose  our  House." 

293.  At  the  time  of  the  disruption,  one  of  the  heritors  of  Les- 
mahagon  met  a  workingman,  who  was  the  proprietor  of  a  single 
tenement,  and  said  to  him,  "Peter,  if  3'ou  join  these  Free  Church 
folks,  3^ou  will  lose  3"our  house — all  will  be  taken  from  you  to  pay 
law  expenses."  The  plain  workingman  was  somewhat  discon- 
certed by  this  appeal  to  his  fears,  and  forthwith  repeated  the  matter 
to  his  wife,  who  had  a  firmer  faith.  She  encouraged  her  husband, 
and  said,  "Never  mind,  Peter;  just  say  to  the  gentleman,  'Better 
lose  our  house  than  lose  our  souls.'  " 


The  Whole  World  and  a  Human  Soul. 

294.  AVhen  Lysimachus  was  engaged  in  a  war  with  the  Getae, 
he  was  so  tormented  with  thirst,  that  he  offered  his  kingdom  to  his 
enemies  for  permission  to  quench  it.  His  exclamation,  when  he 
had  drunk  the  water  with  which  they  furnished  him,  is  striking. 
"Ah,  wretched  me,  who  for  such  a  momentary  gratification  have 
lost  so  great  a  kingdom ! " 

How  applicable  is  this  to  the  case  of  those  who,  for  the  mo- 
mentary pleasures  of  sin,  part  with  the  kingdom  of  heaven! 


The  Hat  and  the  Head. 

295.  During  a  fearful  storm  lately  in  England,  '  *  at  Bishopgate 
station,  the  hat  of  a  passenger  was  blown  off,  and  in  attempting  to 
recover  it,  he  was  knocked  down  and  beheaded  by  a  train." 

What  a  sad  illustration  of  a  prevalent  folly.  The  poor  man,  adl- 
ing  impulsively  and  not  noticing  the  coming  train,  lost  his  head 
in  the  effort  to  save  his  hat.  How  many  lose  themselves  through 
the  excited  and  irrational  pursuit  of  the  lower  pleasures  of  sense! 
The  hat  and  the  head !    The  body  and  the  soul ! 


REVIVAL  ANE:CD0TKS. 


127 


''And  I  Begs  no  Pardons." 

296.  On  one  occasion  a  Welsh  preaclier,  who  was  quite  eccen- 
tric, and  who  was  familiarly  known  as  Billy  Breeze,  was  asked 
to  preach  after  a  young  man — a  semi-rationalist,  fresh  from  the 
schools.  The  young  man  took  for  his  text,  "He  that  believeth 
shall  be  saved ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned. ' '  He 
handled  this  solemn  theme  in  an  affe(5led  and  puerile  manner,  fre- 
quently growing  sentimental  over  it,  and  finally  begged  the  pai^do7t 
of  the  audience  for  the  sad  statement  his  text  forced  him  to  make. 

This  was  quite  beyond  the  patience  of  Mr.  Breeze,  which  had 
already  been  badly  strained.  When  it  came  his  turn  to  preach, 
he  broke  out:  "I  shall  take  the  same  text  to-night  which  you 
have  just  heard.  Our  young  friend  has  been  fery  foine  to-night; 
he  has  told  you  some  fery  polite  things.  I  am  not  fery  foine,  and 
I  am  not  polite;  but  I  will  preach  a  little  bit  of  gospel  to  you, 
which  is  this:  'He  that  believeth  shall  be  saved;  but  he  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  tamned,'  ajid  I  begs  710  pardojis.'"  He  went 
on  in  this  abrupt,  incisive  manner,  for  some  little  time,  at  the 
close  of  each  paragraph  reiterating  the  text,  and  clinching  it  with 
his  peculiar  disclaimer.  Authentic  tradition  adds  that  while  he 
gave  mortal  offense  to  the  leaders  of  the  congregation,  this  whole- 
some truth-telling  was  not  forgotten  by  the  audience,  or  even  by 
those  who  had  been  so  offended. 


A  Dispute  with  Jesus  Christ. 

297.  A  venerable  minister  once  preached  a  sermon  on  the  last 
judgment.  On  the  next  day  some  thoughtless  men  agreed  that 
one  of  their  number  should  go  to  him,  and,  if  possible,  draw  him 
into  a  discussion.  He  went  accordingly,  and  began  the  conversa- 
tion, saying,  "I  believe  there  is  a  small  dispute  between  yon  and 
me,  and  I  thought  that  I  would  call  this  morning  and  try  to  settle 
it."  "Ah!"  said  the  good  man,  "what  is  it?"  "Why,"  he  re- 
plied, "you  say  that  the  woe  of  the  finally  impenitent  will  be 
eternal,  and  I  do  not  think  it  will."  "O,  if  that  is  all,"  he  an- 
swered, ' '  there  is  no  dispute  between  you  and  me.  If  you  turn 
to  Matthew  25 : 46,  you  will  find  that  the  dispute  is  between  you 
and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  would  advise  you  to  go  immedi- 
ately and  settle  it  with  him." 


Generae  Jackson  Silencing  a  Scoffer. 

298.  The  noted  Peter  Cartwright  happened  to  travel  a  circuit 
near  the  Hermitage,  and  was  often  General  Jackson's  guest.  One 


128 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Sunda}',  the  preacher  had  gone  home  from  church  with  his  friend 
and  a  number  of  visitors,  to  dine.  Among  other  persons  at  the 
table  was  a  young  Nashville  law3'er,  who  desired  to  exhibit  his 
wit  at  the  expense  of  the  backwoods  preacher.  Addressing  him 
across  the  table,  he  said :  ' '  Mr.  Cartwright,  do  you  reall}^  believe 
in  any  such  place  as  hell  ?  I  know  you  preach  a  great  deal  about 
it,  and  that's  all  verj^  well,  but  I  want  your  private  opinion;  you 
are  certainh^  too  intelligent  a  man  to  believe  an3^thing  of  the 
kind."  The  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone  was  a  prominent  article 
in  the  preacher's  creed.  As  he  paused  an  instant  to  consider  how 
best  to  answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  General  Jackson,  im- 
petuously thumping  the  table  with  his  knife,  broke  in,  "Mr. 
Jones,  I  believe  in  a  hell."  "You,  General  Jackson!"  said  the 
startled  fledgeling.  ' '  What  possible  use  can  you  have  for  such  a 
place?"  "To  put  such  infernal  fools  as  you  in,  sir,"  thundered 
the  infuriated  host. 


The  Straight  Road  to  Heaven. 

299.  Dr.  Bliphalet  Nott,  President  of  Union  College,  once 
preached  a  sermon,  near  Schenecftady,  on  the  dodlrine  of  eveilast- 
ing  punishment.  A  "  restorationist, "  who  heard  the  sermon,  saw 
the  Dodlor  soon  after  and  took  him  to  task  for  teaching  such  doc- 
trine, telling  him  he  did  not  believe  a  word  of  it.  "What  do  you 
believe?"  asked  the  Doctor.  "I  believe  that  when  all  men  are 
judged,  those  who  deserve  punishment  will  be  sent  to  hell,  and 
remain  there  7i?itil  the  debt  is  paid,  after  which  they  will  be  taken 
to  heaven." 

"Well,  I  have  but  a  word  to  add,"  said  the  Dodlor.  "  There  is  a 
straight  road  to  heaven,  and  all  can  go  that  way  who  will.  If  you 
are  determined  to  go  around  through  hell  to  get  there,  I  cannot 
help  it." 


A  Natural  Inference. 

300.  A  preacher  who  taught  the  final  salvation  of  all  men, 
good  and  bad,  was  led  to  the  refledlion  and  examination  which 
totally  changed  his  belief  and  dodlrine,  by  a  question  of  his  little 
boy.  He  amused  the  child  one  day  by  telling  him  the  story  of 
the  "Babes  in  the  Wood." 

"What  became  of  the  poor  little  innocent  children  ?"  was  the 
first  question. 

"They  went  to  heaven." 

"And  what  became  of  the  wicked  old  uncle  ?" 

"Why,  he  went  to  heaven  too." 

"Won't  he  kill  them  again  ? "  asked  the  child. 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


129 


"How  Far  is  it  to  Hkli.?" 

301.  I  was  reading  some  time  ago  of  a  young  man  wlio  came 
out  of  a  saloon  one  Sunday  morning;  he  mounted  a  horse,  and 
as  he  rode  along  he  met  a  deacon.  Riding  up  to  the  deacon,  he 
said,  in  his  flippant  way,  "Can  you  tell  me,  deacon,  how  far  it 
is  to  hell  ?  "  It  so  shocked  the  deacon  that  he  made  him  no  an- 
vSwer,  and  he  rode  on.  I  suppose  he  thought  he  had  done  a  very 
sharp  thing.  He  rode  around  the  corner,  and  perhaps  the  deacon 
thought  he  would  never  see  him  again.  But  when  the  deacon 
turned  that  same  corner,  he  saw  that  the  horse  had  thrown  its 
rider;  and  when  he  came  up,  there  was  a  crowd  standing  around 
that  young  man.  The  horse  had  thrown  him  and  had  broken  his 
neck,  and  he  was  in  eternity.  Perhaps  the  last  words  that  fell 
from  his  lips  were,  ' '  How  far  is  it  to  hell  ? ' ' 


The  Way  to  the  Pit. 

302.  As  a  young  man  was  just  about  to  enter  a  theater,  one 
of  the  door-keepers,  who  stood  to  diredl  the  coming  crowd,  called 
out,  ''This  is  the  way  to  the  pity  The  phrase  impressed  him.  It 
conveyed  a  meaning  to  him  that  the  door-keeper  never  thought 
of.  He  took  warning  in  season,  and  turning  his  back  upon  the 
theater  forever,  became  a  devout  student  and  teacher  of  the  wis- 
dom which  is  from  above. 


What  Could  He  Do  in  Heaven? 

303*  Many  years  ago,  when  stage-coaches  still  ran,  a  coach- 
man, as  he  drove  his  horses  rapidly,  poured  forth  such  a  volley 
of  oaths  and  foul  language  as  to  shock  all  the  passengers.  An 
old  clergyman  who  was  sitting  close  to  him  said  nothing,  but 
fixed  his  piercing  blue  eyes  upon  him  with  a  look  of  extreme 
wonder  and  astonishment.  At  last  the  coachman  became  uneasy, 
and  turning  round  to  him,  said,  ' '  What  makes  you  look  at  me, 
sir,  in  that  way  ? "  The  clergyman,  with  his  eyes  still  fixed  upon 
him,  said:  "  I  cannot  imagine  what  you  will  do  in  heaven.  There 
are  no  horses,  or  coaches,  or  saddles,  or  bridles,  or  public  houses 
in  heaven.  There  will  be  none  to  swear  at,  or  to  whom  you  can 
use  bad  language.  I  cannot  think  what  you  will  do  when  you 
get  to  heaven." 


"This  is  HeivL  to  Me." 

304.  A  camp-meeting  and  a  horse-race  were  to  be  held  near 
Toronto  on  the  same  day.    Owing  to  a  mistake,  a  Christian  who 

9 


130 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


was  going  to  the  camp-meeting,  found  himself  on  board  the  boat 
"vvhich  carried  the  horse  men,  and  he  soon  became  so  disgusted 
with  the  ribaldry  and  coarse  talk  he  heard,  that  he  went  to  the 
captain  and  said:  "Captain,  I  cannot  endure  this;  it  is  like  hell 
to  vie.  I  will  give  you  ten  dollars  if  you  will  put  me  back  to 
Rochester. ' '    This  could  not  be  done. 

In  the  evening,  one  of  the  horse  men  inadvertently  got  on 
l)oard  the  boat  carrying  the  camp-meeting  people.  He  was  miser- 
able. He  could  not  find  anybody  to  drink  or  smoke  with,  or  to 
talk  to  as  he  wanted  to  be  talked  to,  and  so  he  went  to  the  captain 
and  said,  using  the  same  words  as  the  gentleman  in  the  morning 
had  used:  "Captain,  if  you  will  put  me  back  into  Toronto,  I 
will  give  you  ten  dollars.    This  is  hell  to  me.'' 


The  Knd  is  Harder  Still. 

305*  Some  fifty  years  ago  a  young  man  was  listlessly  stroll- 
ing through  the  streets  of  the  village  of  C  ,  on  a  Sabbath 

evening,  and  seeing  the  doors  of  a  church  open,  he  entered  when 
the  preacher  was  far  advanced  in  his  discourse,  and  quietly  took 
a  seat  at  the  back  part  of  the  house.  The  text,  as  he  soon  dis- 
covered from  the  sermon,  was,  ''The  imy  of  transgressors  is 
hard.''  And  as,  at  the  close  of  a  period,  the  preacher  repeated  it, 
with  deep  earnestness,  he  added,  "Yes,  the  way  oi  trangressors 
is  hard,  but  the  end  of  that  way  is  harder  still  f  "  lyike  an  arrow 
from  the  quiver  of  the  Almighty,  that  last  expression  entered 
with  power  into  the  young  man's  soul.  It^pointed  him,  as  with 
a  voice  from  heaven,  to  the  end  of  a  sinful  course,  and  so  roused 
his  conscience,  and  impressed  and  absorbed  his  thoughts,  that 
the  rest  of  the  sermon  was  comparatively  unheard.  As  he  left 
the  church,  those  words,  ''The  end  of  that  way  is  harder  still," 
kept  ringing  in  his  ears.  They  followed  him  to  his  dwelling,  and 
went  with  him  to  the  retirement  of  his  chamber,  and  for  days 
gave  him  no  rest,  till  he  was  brought  in  penitence  and  faith  to 
the  only  Savior  of  sinners.  He  soon  made  a  profession  of  re- 
ligion, then  studied  for  the  ministry,  then  was  ordained  pastor 
of  a  church,  and  still  lives,  at  the  age  of  threescore  years  and  ten, 
to  proclaim  the  gospel  of  Christ. 


"Going  Respectably  to  Hell." 

306.  Among  the  converts  of  a  meeting  was  one  whose  con- 
version was  a  striking  one.  At  the  overflow  meeting  one  Sabbath 
night,  the  speaker  discoursed  on  Isaiah  53:  6:  ''All  we  like  sheep 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


131 


have  gone  astray,"  lie  said,  might  perhaps  be  taken  to  indicate 
more  especially  those  who  went  headlong  and  reckless  down  the 
Toad  to  hell;  while  "We  have  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way," 
might  be  applied  to  those  who  insist  on  their  own  way  of  getting 
to  heaven,  instead  of  God's  way.  The  first  class,  he  said,  were 
going  along  the  left  side  of  the  broad  way  that  leadeth  to  de- 
struAion  ;  the  second  class,  along  the  right  side.  They  were  both 
going  down  the  one  broad  road  to  ruin.  ' '  Trying  to  go  to  heaven 
your  own  way,  brother,  by  your  own  religiousness,  your  church- 
going,  your  sacrament-taking,  Sunday-school  teaching,  etc.,  with- 
out being  born  again,  is  just  going  to  hell,  and  the  only  difference 
between  you  and  the  reckless  profligate  you  so  despise,  is,  that 
he  is  going  disreputably  to  hell,  and  you  are  going  respe(5lably ! " 
The  man  left  the  meeting  with  the  words  ringing  in  his  ears, 
"You're  going  respe(5lably  to  hell '"  He  never  got  rid  of  them 
till  he  found  peace  in  believing. 


The  Sleep  oe  Sin. 

307.  Unbelief  is  oftener  carelessness  than  clear  refusal ;  but  it 
is  just  as  fatal. 

A  fireman's  drunken  sleep  involved  the  loss  of  a  river  steam- 
boat, and  came  near  causing  the  death  of  the  sleeper,  in  New  York, 
some  time  ago.  The  fireman  had  been  ajshore  the  previous  day, 
and  had  indulged  in  a  drinking  bout,  and  had  drunk  too  much. 
At  day-break,  being  alone  on  board,  he  connected  the  tanks  in  the 
boat  with  a  hydrant  on  the  wharf,  and  turned  the  water  on,  to 
make  ready  for  the  day's  work.  While  the  tanks  were  filling  up, 
he  fell  asleep,  and  the  boat  was  filled  with  water.  The  man 
awoke  when  vShe  was  sinking,  and  got  ashore  just  in  time  to  save 
his  life,  but  the  boat  sank  in  twenty-five  feet  of  water. 

The  condition  of  that  man  asleep,  while  the  water  poured  into 
the  boat,  was  a  t3^pe  of  the  spiritual  state  of  many  men  whose 
awakening  will  be  terrible. 


"I  Answer,  'Coming,'  in  my  Seeep." 

308.  "There  was  an  old  turnpike-man,  on  a  quiet  country 
road,  whose  habit  it  was  to  shut  his  gate  at  night,  and  take  his  nap. 
One  dark,  v/et  midnight,  I  knocked  at  his  door,  calling,  '  Gate, 
gate ! '  '  Coming, '  said  the  voice  of  the  old  man.  Then  I  knocked 
again,  and  once  more  the  voice  replied,  *  Coming.'  This  went  on 
for  some  time,  till  at  length  I  grew  quite  angry,  and  jumping  off 
my  horse,  opened  the  door,  and  demanded  why  he  cried,  '  Com- 


132 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


ing,'  for  twenty  minutes,  and  never  came.  *  Who  is  there?'  said 
the  old  man,  in  a  quiet,  sleepy  voice,  rubbing  his  eyes.  *  What 
d'ye  want,  sir?'  Then  awakening,  'Bless  yer,  sir,  and  ax  yer 
pardon.  I  was  asleep.  I  gets  so  used  to  hearing  them  knock, 
that  I  answer,  "Coming,"  in  my  sleep,  and  take  no  more  notice 
about  it. " ' 

A  pidlure  of  the  sleeping  sinner ! 


He  was  AsIvEEp. 

309.  Off  the  coast  of  New  Zealand,  a  captain  lost  his  vessel 
by  steering  in  the  face  of  the  warning  light,  till  he  dashed  upon 
the  rock  immediately  beneath  the  light-house.  He  said  he  was 
asleep;  but  this  did  not  restore  the  wreck,  nor  save  him  from 
condemnation. 

It  is  a  terrible  thing  for  rays  of  gospel  light  to  guide  a  man  to- 
his  doom. 


His  Own  P11.0T. 

310*  I  once  heard  of  a  bright,  blithe  boy,  who  loved  the  sea, 
and  very  young  he  entered  on  a  sailor's  life.  He  was  rapidly 
promoted,  and,  while  quite  a  young  man,  was  made  the  master 
of  a  ship.  One  day  a  passenger  spoke  to  him  upon  the  voyage, 
and  asked  if  he  should  anchor  off  a  certain  headland,  supposing 
he  would  anchor  there,  and  telegraph  for  a  pilot  to  take  the  vessel 
into  port.  "Anchor!  No,  not  I.  I  mean  to  be  in  dock  with  the 
morning  tide."  "I  thought,  perhaps,  you  would  signal  for  a 
pilot."  "I  am  my  own  pilot,"  was  the  curt  reply.  Intent  upon 
reaching  port  by  morning,  he  took  a  narrow  channel  to  save  dis- 
tance. Old,  bronzed  and  gray-headed  seamen  turned  their  swart 
faces  to  the  sky,  which  boded  squally  weather,  and  shook  their 
heads;  cautious  passengers  went  to  the  young  captain  and  be- 
sought him  to  take  the  wider  course,  but  he  only  laughed  at  their 
fears,  and  repeated  his  promise  to  be  in  dock  by  day-break.  He 
was  ashore  before  day-break :  his  vessel  wrecked,  and  he  tossed 
upon  the  beach — dead!  He  was  his  own  pilot.  There  was  his 
blunder — fatal,  suicidal  blunder. 


Lost  Without  a  Guide. 

311,  A  young  man  exploring  the  Catacombs  at  Rome  left  his 
guide,  and  was  soon  out  of  hearing.    Search  was  made  for  him. 


RBVIVAI.  ANBCDOTKS. 


133 


but  all  in  vain.  Days  and  weeks  passed  away,  and  at  last  nothing 
hut  his  bones  was  found.  Such  is  the  experience  of  those  who 
leave  their  Heavenly  Guide. 


Rejecting  thb  Guide. 

312.  A  party  of  tourists  wishing  to  ascend  Mt.  Washington, 
refused  to  take  a  guide,  thinking  him  unnecessary.  The  hotel- 
keeper  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  vainly  urged  them,  and  even 
offered  to  supply  one  gratis,  but  still  they  refused.  They  laughed 
at  the  suggested  dangers,  and  rather  hoped  to  be  caught  in  a 
snow-storm  for  the  sake  of  the  novel  experience.  All  went  gaily 
until  they  neared  the  top,  when  the  desired  snow-storm  came 
upon  them.  They  were  delighted  with  it  for  a  few  minutes,  but 
soon  the  path  was  covered,  and  the  snow  blinded  them  so  that 
they  could  not  find  the  path.  They  struggled  on,  losing  them- 
selves more  and  more  hopelessly,  until,  unable  to  walk  any  farther 
in  the  darkness  of  the  night  which  had  fallen  upon  them,  they 
sank  down  in  the  deep,  cold  snow,  and  waited  for  daylight  to 
come  to  show  them  the  way  to  the  "Tiptop"  House.  In  the 
morning  the  snow-storm  had  all  cleared  away,  and  as  the  keepers 
of  the  house  looked  out,  they  saw  only  a  little  way  off,  not  much 
more  than  a  stone's  throw,  the  half-buried  party.  They  went  to 
them  at  once,  but  it  was  too  late  to  save  the  life  of  one  beautiful 
young  lady,  who  had  been  frozen  to  death  during  that  awful 
night,  and  all  because  she,  with  the  rest,  had  said,  "We  don't 
want  the  guide. ' '  A  great  pile  of  stones  marks  the  spot  where 
her  young  life  went  out. 


g  A  Mistake. 

313.  A  Southern  senator  made  an  amusing  mistake  recently. 
He  had  occasion  to  travel  from  Washington  to  New  York,  and 
having  purchased  his  sleeping-car  ticket,  went  to  the  depot  and 
boarded  a  train.  Being  exceedingly  tired  and  sleepy,  he  un- 
dressed immediately,  went  to  bed,  and  was  soon  in  a  sound  slum- 
ber. He  awoke  in  the  morning  much  refreshed,  and  proceeded 
to  make  his  ablutions  and  dress,  preparatory  to  crossing  the  ferry 
from  Jersey  City  to  the  metropolis.  When  he  issued  from  the 
•car,  however,  he  was  overwhelmed  with  surprise.  He  could  see 
neither  Trinity  spire  nor  the  bridge,  nor  any  of  the  familiar  signs 
of  New  York.  In  fadt,  Washington's  scenes  were  around  him  as 
they  were  when  he  went  to  bed  the  night  before.  On  inquiry  he 
learned  that  he  had  slept  all  night  in  the  Washington  depot,  hav- 


134 


the;  gospei.  worker's  treasury. 


ing  entered  a  car  which  had  not  been  attached  to  the  New  York 
train.  Mortifying  as  the  senator's  mistake  w^as,  it  would  have 
been  far  worse  if,  instead  of  remaining  still,  he  had  been  carried 
in  an  opposite  direction.  That  mistake,  in  a  more  serious  matter, 
is  being  made  by  many  who  "hope"  they  are  Christians,  and 
who  ' '  expecft "  to  go  to  heaven  when  they  die.  When  they  awake 
to  the  discovery  of  their  blunder,  their  despair  will  be  unbearable. 
(Luke  13 :  26-28.) 


The  Iceberg. 

314.  Some  years  since,  a  vessel  lay  becalmed  on  a  smooth  sea 
in  the  vicinity  of  an  iceberg.  In  full  view  the  mountain  mass  of 
frozen  splendor  rose  before  the  passengers  of  the  vessel.  A  party 
on  board  the  vessel  resolved  to  climb  the  steep  sides  of  the  ice- 
berg, and  spend  the  day  in  a  picnic  on  the  summit.  The  novelty 
and  attra(5tion  of  the  hazardous  enterprise  blinded  them  to  its 
danger,  and  they  left  the  vessel,  ascended  the  steep  mountain  of 
ice,  spread  their  table  on  the  summit,  and  enjoyed  the  dance  of 
pleasure  on  the  surface  of  the  frosty  marble.  Nothing  disturbed 
their  serenity,  or  marred  their  enjoyment.  Their  sport  was  fin- 
ished, and  they  made  their  way  down  to  the  water-level  and  em- 
barked. But  scarcely  had  they  reached  a  safe  distance  before  the 
loud  crash  of  the  crumbling  mass  was  heard.  The  giant  iceberg 
rolled  over  with  a  shock  that  sent  a  thrill  of  awe  and  terror  to  the 
breast  of  every  spe(ftator.  Not  one  of  that  gay  party  could  ever 
be  induced  to  try  that  rash  experiment  again.  But  what  is  this 
world,  with  all  its  brilliancy,  with  all  its  hopes  and  alluring 
pleasures,  but  a  glittering  iceberg,  melting  slowly  away  ? 


The  Mistake  oe  Maci^an. 

315.  William  III.  made  proclamation,  when  there  was  a  revo- 
lution in  the  north  of  Scotland,  that  all  who  came  and  took  the 
oath  of  allegiance  by  the  31st  of  D.ecember  should  be  pardoned. 
Maclan,  a  chieftain  of  a  prominent  clan,  resolved  to  return  with 
the  rest  of  the  rebels,  but  had  some  pride  in  being  the  very  last 
one  that  should  take  the  oath.  He  postponed  starting  for  this 
purpose  until  two  days  before  the  expiration  of  the  term. 

A  snow-storm  impeded  his  way,  and  before  he  got  up  to  take 
the  oath  and  receive  a  pardon  from  the  throne,  the  time  was  up 
and  past.  While  the  others  were  set  free,  Maclan  was  miserably 
put  to  death.  He  started  too  late  and  arrived  too  late.  In  like 
manner  some  are  in  prospec5l  of  losing  forever  the  amnesty  of  the 


re:vival  anecdote;s. 


135 


gospel.  Many  are  going  to  be  forever  too  late.  Remember  the  ir- 
reparable mistake  of  Maclan ! 


Shall  I  Sue;  for  Mkrcy?" 

316.    The  door  of  heaven  shuts  from  below,  not  from  above. 

Your  iniquities  have  separated, "  saith  the  I^ord.  lyord  Byron, 
a  short  time  before  his  death,  was  heard  to  say,  "Shall  I  sue  for 
mercy  ? "  After  a  long  pause,  he  added,  "Come,  come,  no  weak- 
ness ;  let's  be  a  man  to  the  last  1 ' ' 


A  RkbkivIvIOus  Conviction. 

317.  A  man  who  came  to  one  of  Moody's  meetings  became 
fairly  frantic  with  the  convidlion  of  sin.  At  the  same  time  he 
was  bitterly  angry  at  Mr.  Moody.  With  a  terrible  oath,  he  said : 
' '  I  wish  to  God  ]\Ioody  had  never  come  to  this  city,  and  begun 

these  gospel  meetings.    I  used  to  go  to  church  regularly  on 

Sunday  morning ;  but  I  was  not  troubled  about  my  sins.  What 
a  fool  I  was  ever  to  come  to  this  rink !  I  have  had  no  peace,  day 
or  night,  since  I  first  heard  Moody  preach.  I  cannot  stay  away 
from  the  meetings,  and  to  come  to  them  only  makes  me  worse. 
If  this  is  religion,  I  am  sure  I  do  not  want  any  of  it."  And  thus 
he  raved  and  tore  about  like  a  madman. 


So  Near  to  thk  Kingdom. 

318.  Bishop  Weaver  was  once  called  in  to  see  a  dying  man, 
and  on  asking  him  as  to  his  spiritual  condition,  received  the  fol- 
lowing sad  reply:  "I  was  once  under  deep  convi(5tion,  and  was 
led  to  the  very  door  of  the  kingdom  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  felt 
that  there  was  only  one  step  more  and  I  should  be  in  the  king- 
dom, but  I  deliberately  refused  to  take  that  step.  The  Spirit 
immediately  left  me,  and  now  I  am  lost !  There  is  no  use  in  pray- 
ing; I  am  lost."    And  in  this  despair  he  died. 


Fanaticism  of  Sin. 

319.  During  the  prevalence  of  French  infidelity  in  this  coun-^ 
try,  at  the  close  of  the  last  century,  the  town  of  Newburg,  New 


136 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


York,  became  notorious  as  a  stronghold  of  deists  and  scoffers. 
Thirty-six  of  the  profanest  of  these  wicked  men  organized  them- 
selves into  a  club,  which  they  called  the  "Society  of  the  Druids," 
and  held  meetings  to  revile  the  religion  of  Christ,  and  plan  how 
they  could  destroy  it.  One  evening,  among  other  blasphemous 
orgies,  they  burned  the  Bible,  baptized  a  cat,  and  administered 
the  sacrament  to  a  dog. 

Two  of  those  men  died,  suddenly  and  strangely,  in  their  beds, 
that  same  night.  A  third  died  in  a  fit  three  days  afterward,  and 
within  a  few  days,  three  more  perished  by  drowning.  Within 
five  years,  all  the  rest  of  the  thirty-six  came  to  an  untimely  end. 

The  facfls,  which  were  so  remarkable  that  pains  were  taken  to 
colled:  them,  were  sworn  to  in  the  following  statement  before 
justices  of  the  peace  in  New  York:  — 

Two  were  starved  to  death ;  seven  were  drowned  (including  the 
three  above  mentioned);  eight  were  shot;  five  committed  suicide; 
seven  died  on  the  gallows;  one  was  frozen  to  death;  and  three 
died  "accidentally." 


A  Stumbling  Block  Removed. 

A  meeting  was  once  announced  by  Rev.  R.  A.  Hitt,  to 
begin  at  a  specified  time.  A  wicked  young  man,  after  going  out 
of  the  house,  made  the  announcement,  that  Hitt  might  succeed 
in  getting  them  converted,  but  before  three  months  he  would 
have  them  back  in  the  world  more  wicked  than  before.  He  was 
taken  down  with  a  violent  fever,  and  at  the  end  of  two  weeks 
was  dead.    He  did  not  live  to  see  the  meeting. 


"A  Savor  of  Death  Unto  Death." 

Dr.  Dwight,  while  President  of  Yale,  at  the  close  of  a 
religious  ledlure  to  the  students,  urged  so  powerfully  upon  their 
manly  candor  the  duty  and  importance  of  choosing  at  once  be- 
tween the  service  of  God  and  the  service  of  Satan,  that  many  of 
them  were  influenced  to  begin  a  Christian  life  from  that  very 
hour.  To  several  of  the  more  hardened,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Docflor's  counsel  proved  a  savor  of  death  unto  death.  Five  of 
these  assembled  in  a  room  by  themselves,  and  half  in  burlesque, 
half  in  earnest,  made  a  formal  agreement  together,  that,  as  for 
them,  they  would  serve  the  Devil. 

The  compact  was  written  in  blood,  which  one  of  their  number 
drew  from  a  vein  in  his  arm.  Whether  they  fully  realized  what 
they  were  doing  or  not,  the  adt  was  quite  in  keeping  with  the 


REjVIVAIv  anecdote;vS. 


137 


daring  infidelity  of  those  days,  and  it  appears  that  all  the  reck- 
less company  were  taken  at  their  word. 

Many  years  afterward,  when  their  history  was  traced  by  one 
who  knew  the  circumstances,  some  had  died  untimely  deaths, 
and  the  rest  were  living  godless  lives — profane,  unprincipled  men, 
evidently  given  over  to  hardness  of  heart  and  blindness  of  mind. 


(3.)  RESULTS  OF  REJECTING  CHRIST. 


A  Wise:  De;vil. 

322.  A  preacher  proposed  to  preach  on  the  text,"  Behold! 
now  is  the  accepted  time;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation."] 
While  in  s1?udy,  he  fell  asleep  and  dreamed  he  was  taken  to  the 
other  world  and  set  down  among  a  conclave  of  lost  spirits,  assem- 
bled to  lay  plans  to  destroy  the  souls  of  men. 

One  says,  "I'll  go  to  earth  and  tell  men  that  the  Bible  is  a 
fable,  and  not  Divine." 

' '  No,  that  won't  do, ' '  said  another.  "  I'  11  go  and  tell  them  there 
is  no  God,  no  Savior,  no  heaven,  no  hell."  And  at  the  last  words 
a  fiendish  smile  lighted  up  all  their  countenances. 

"No,"  said  another,  "that  will  not  do;  we  cannot  make  men 
believe  that." 

Suddenly  a  wise  one  arose,  and  like  the  serpent  of  old,  sug- 
gested: "I  will  journey  carelessly  to  the  world  of  men,  and  tell 
them  there  is  a  God,  a  Savior,  a  heaven, — yes,  and  a  hell,  too, — but 
I  will  tell  them  there  is  no  need  of  being  in  a  hurry ;  take  plenty 
of  time,  for  to-morrow  will  be  as  to-day,  and  more  abundant." 

And  they  all  voted  to  send  him. 

Of  course  the  minister  awoke  more  determined  than  ever  to 
take  his  text,  and  preach  as  Christ  did — and  urge  his  hearers  to 
obey,  as  Simon  and  Andrew  and  James  and  John  did. 


"It  is  Pleasant  Floating." 

323.    Several  years  since,  three  students  of  a  college  in  M  , 

bathing  one  sunny  day  in  a  beautiful  river,  allowed  themselves 
to  float  toward  a  water-fall,  some  distance  below. 

At  length  two  of  them  made  for  the  shore,  and  to  their  alarm, 
found  that  the  current  was  stronger  than  they  had  supposed. 
They  inimediately  hailed  the  other,  and  urged  him  to  seek  the 
vshore.    But  he  smiled  at  their  fears,  and  floated  on.    "  It  is  pleas- 


138 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


ant  floating,"  he  said,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  it  much.  Soon  sev- 
eral persons  were  gathered  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and,  alarmed 
for  his  safety,  they  cried  out  in  deep  earnestness,  ' '  Make  for  the 
shore,  or  yon  will  certainly  go  over ! ' ' 

But  he  still  floated  on,  laughing  at  their  fears.  Soon  he  saw 
his  danger,  and  exerted  his  utmost  energies  to  gain  the  shore. 
But,  alas!  it  was  too  late;  the  current  was  too  strong.  He  cried 
for  help ;  but  no  help  could  now  reach  him.  His  mind  was  filled 
with  anguish,  and  just  as  he  reached  the  fearful  precipice,  he 
threw  himself  up,  with  arms  extended,  gave  an  unearthly  shriek, 
and  plunged  into  the  boiling  abyss  below. 

How  striking  an  illustration  of  the  conducft  and  final  ruin  of 
thousands  of  immortal  souls,  who  are  floating  pleasantly  and 
thoughtlessly  on  the  stream  of  life  toward  the  gulf  of  despair. 
They  are  warned  and  entreated  with  tears,  by  alarmed  and  faith- 
ful friends.  But  they  float  on,  mocking  the  fears  of  those  who 
love  them  most,  till,  too  late,  they  awake  to  their  danger,  and  see 
just  beneath  them  the  gulf  of  eternal  ruin.. 


The  Baboushka. 

324.  The  Russian  peasantry  have  a  curious  tradition.  It  is 
that  an  old  woman,  the  Baboushka,  was  at  work  in  her  house 
when  the  wise  men  from  the  East  passed  on  their  way  to  find  the 
Christ-child.  "Come  with  us,"  they  said;  "we  have  seen  his 
star  in  the  Bast,  and  go  to  worship  him."  "I  will  come,  but  not 
now,"  she  answered;  "I  have  my  house  to  set  in  order;  when 
this  is  done,  I  will  follow  and  find  him."  But  when  her  work 
was  done,  the  three  kings  had  passed  on  their  way  across  the 
desert,  and  the  star  shone  no  more  in  the  darkened  heavens.  She 
never  saw  the  Christ-child,  but  she  is  living  and  searching  for 
him  still.  For  his  sake  vShe  takes  care  of  all  his  children.  It  is 
she  who,  in  Russian  and  Italian  houses,  is  believed  to  fill  the 
stockings  and  dress  the  tree  on  Christmas  morn.  The  children 
are  awakened  by  the  cry  of,  ' '  Behold,  the  Baboushka ! ' '  and  spring 
up,  hoping  to  see  her  before  she  vanishes  out  of  the  window.  She 
fancies,  the  tradition  goes,  that  in  each  poor  little  one  whom  she 
warms  and  feeds,  she  may  find  the  Christ-child,  whom  she  neg- 
ledled  ages  ago,  but  is  doomed  to  eternal  disappointment. 


Decide  Now. 

325.  A  little  boy  once  happened  to  be  away  from  home.  He 
started  on  his  journey  homeward,  and,  after  walking  some  dis- 


re;vivai.  anecdotejs. 


139 


tance,  came  to  a  small  stream  flowing-  across  the  road,  which  he 
could  easily  have  stepped  across.  "But  no,"  thought  he,  "I  see 
there  are  beautiful  flowers  along  down  the  stream  on  this  side, 
and  I  do  love  to  gather  them,  and  play  with  them,  and  I  have  time 
enough  to  spare,  so  I  will  walk  along  down  the  stream,  and  when 
I  have  enjoyed  these  flowers  as  much  as  I  like,  I  will  then  step 
across  and  go  home." 

But,  as  he  wandered  on  down,  the  stream,  gradually,  and  at 
first  imperceptibly,  grew  w^ider  and  deeper.  At  length,  he  began 
to  discover  that  the  stream  had  become  much  wider,  but  thought 
he  could  throw  a  rail  across,  or  find  where  some  tree  had  been 
blown  across,  and  in  that  way  get  over. 

"I  will  gather,"  said  he,  "a  few  more  of  these  beautiful  flowers, 
and  seledt  from  the  water's  edge  a  few  of  these  beautiful  stones 
for  the  children,  and  bask  in  this  delightful  sunshine,  for  it  looks 
very  dark  and  gloomy  on  the  other  side,  and  after  a  while  I  will 
cross  over,  and  go  home.  I  know  mother  and  father  are  expedl- 
ing  me,  and  I  am  obliged  to  cross  over  the  stream." 

Thus  he  talked  and  thus  he  walked,  until  he  found  that  the 
stream  had  become  a  river.  "Now,"  thought  he,  "I  will  cross 
over  at  the  next  bridge  I  come  to." 

But  he  passed  the  bridge.  "It  looks  too  gloomy  on  the  other 
side;  I  must  have  some  fun  a  little  while  longer." 

Finally,  the  river  has  become  an  arm  of  the  sea,  but  he  must  go 
over.  So,  when  the  sun  is  just  sinking  in  the  wCvSt,  and  darkness 
is  about  to  ovenspread  the  earth,  pallid  with  fear,  he  slowly  goes 
into  the  cold  water;  now  it  comes  up  to  his  knees;  now  to  his 
waist  (see  how  he  shudders);  and  now  up  to  his  chin,  and  finally 
he  sinks  to  rise  no  more. 


Too  IvATE  FOR  THE  LiFE-BOAT. 

326.  At  a  young  men's  prayer-meeting,  in  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Brainerd's  church,  Philadelphia,  a  stranger  arose  and  begged  the 
privilege  to  speak,  announcing  himself  as  the  captain  of  a  vessel 
now  in  port,  and  a  professor  of  the  religion  of  Christ.  "I  wish," 
says  he,  ' '  to  warn  the  impenitent  here  that  delays  are  dangerous. 
It  is  not  safe  to  put  off  until  to-morrow  what  ought  to  be  done  to- 
day." He  stated  that  on  a  dark  and  tempestuous  evening,  he 
was  sailing  on  the  ocean,  when  he  heard  the  firing  of  minute 
guns,  as  signals  of  distress.  He  bore  down  in  the  dire^ion  of 
the  sounds,  and  soon  saw  a  large  steamer,  with  her  flag  at  half- 
mast.    He  put  his  trumpet  to  his  mouth,  and  hailed: — 

' '  What' s  the  matter  ? ' ' 

The  reply  was,  "I  am  in  a  sinking  condition." 


140 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


He  put  his  trumpet  again  to  his  mouth,  and  hailed:  — 

"Send  all  your  passengers  on  board  my  ship." 

The  answer  was,  "No;  lie  by  me  till  morning." 

Again  he  urged  him  to  send  his  passengers  on  board,  and  again 
the  answer  was,  "I^iebyme  till  morning."  Then  he  requested 
him  to  set  his  lights,  which  he  did;  but  in  an  hour  and  a  half,  no 
lights  could  be  seen.  It  was  the  ill-fated  Central  America,  and 
she  had  gone  down.  "So,"  said  the  speaker,  "we  are  at  sea,  in 
a  sinking  condition,  and  the  life-boat  of  God's  mercy  is  waiting 
to  take  us  on  board;  but  if  we  persist  in  delay,  we  may  none  the 
less  be  lost. 


Drifting. 

327.  A  party  took  a  steamer  at  Buffalo,  and  went  down  the 
Niagara  to  within  a  mile  or  so  of  the  rapids,  and  had  a  picnic.  In 
the  evening,  the  whistle  blew  and  the  party  gathered  and  launched 
forth.  It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  steam  was  too  low,  and 
the  boat  unable  to  stem  the  strong  current.  Before  steam  of  a 
proper  pressure  could  be  gotten  up,  the  boat  would  be  lost.  Sud- 
denly the  engineer  remembered  a  barrel  of  oil  that  had  been  put 
on  board  for  lubricating  purposes.  The  boat  was  still  slowly  but 
surely  going  down  the  stream.  Faces  were  white  with  fear,  and 
many  were  praying  to  whom  it  was  an  unwonted  exercise.  But 
when  the  oil  was  thrown  upon  the  fire,  and  the  flames  rose  higher 
and  higher,  suspense  became  an  agon}^  The  steam  rose  rapidly, 
the  downward  movement  of  the  boat  ceased,  and  at  last  it  was 
seen  that  it  was  making  progress  against  the  current,  and  was  on 
its  way  to  the  city.  Then  a  shout  rang  through  the  air,  for  all 
knew  that  they  had  been  saved. 

Alas,  that  so  many  souls  drifting  down  to  destrucftion,  care  so 
little  for  their  danger,  and  seek  no  means  of  escape. 


Danger  of  Dei.ay. 

328.  A  man  at  his  work  happened  to  get  a  slight  scratch  on 
the  back  of  his  hand.  A  single  minute's  attention  to  it  would 
have  caused  it  to  heal  in  a  day  or  two,  but  it  w^as  negle(fted.  A 
slight  inflammation  appeared,  which  a  single  poultice  would  have 
reduced,  but  it  was  neglecfted.  The  whole  hand  became  inflamed, 
and  should  have  had  the  best  medical  attention,  but  it  was  neg- 
lecfted. The  arm  and  shoulder  and  back  were  seized  with  pain, 
and  now  all  was  alarm  and  confusion.  Twelve  physicians  were 
soon  in  attendance,  to  consult  upon  the  case.    The  question  was. 


REvivAiv  ane:cdote:s. 


141 


whetlier  cutting  off  the  limb  would  save  the  man's  life,  and  it 
was  decided  to  be  too  late.  The  disease  had  gained  a  mortal  hold, 
and  no  human  skill  could  arrest  it, 

A  vicious  habit,  an  indulged  little  sin,  a  neglected  duty,  be- 
come stubborn  and  ruinous,  if  they  are  left  alone. 


Afraid  oi^  Busine;ss  Friends. 

329*  A  mayor  of  an  Indiana  city,  after  thinking  over  matters, 
concluded  to  become  a  Christian,  and  to  go  to  a  certain  meeting 
and  ask  for  prayers.  He  went,  but  on  account  of  fear  of  business 
friends,  did  not  keep  his  promise.  Within  twenty- four  hours  he 
was  mortally  ill.  He  calls  for  minister  and  business  friends, 
pleads  with  them  to  come  to  Christ,  and  dies  without  expressing 
a  hope. 


Mourner's  Bench  too  Crowded. 

330.  At  a  revival  meeting  held  by  Rev.  D.  O.  Darling,  a  mid- 
dle-aged man  started  for  the  altar,  but  when  he  saw  its  crowded 
condition,  he  stopped.  The  pastor,  seeing  him,  went  back  and 
begged  him  to  come  out,  but  he  insisted  on  waiting  until  the 
next  night.  But  the  next  night  he  was  sick,  and  in  the  course 
of  a  few  days  he  died,  without  leaving  full  evidence  of  having 
made  his  peace  with  God. 


Just  Outside  the  Door. 

331.  A  shepherd  lost  a  little  lamb  from  the  fold.  He  looked 
for  it  long  and  anxiously.  He  scoured  the  mountains  to  find  the 
little  wandering  one;  but  after  a  fruitless  search  he  returned,  and 
the  shades  of  night  settled  down  on  fold  and  shepherd.  In  the 
morning,  that  little  stray  lamb  was  found  just  outside  the  door 
of  the  sheep-fold,  but,  alas !  torn  to  pieces  by  the  wolves. 


"Lost,  and  so  Near  Home." 

332.  Rev.  J.  W.  Ktter,  D.  D.,  tells  the  following  anecdote 
with  great  effect:  — 

"A  father,  after  an  absence  of  many  years  from  his  devoted 
family,  was  returning  home  from  Europe.  The  day  and  hour  of 
his  arrival  was  announced  some  days  before.  The  wife  and  chil- 
dren spared  no  pains  to  make  their  home  inviting,  by  preparing  a 


142 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


roj'al  supper,  putting  on  their  best  attire,  and  arranging  everj'- 
thing  in  fine  order.  As  the  clock  struck  five,  the  time  appointed 
for  his  arrival,  a  tap  was  heard  at  the  door.  The  mother,  with 
bounding  heart,  hastened  to  welcome  her  husband  home;  but 
how  great  was  her  disappointment  I  Instead  of  her  husband,  she 
found  a  stranger,  who  said,  '  Lost,  and  so  near  home  I '  He  then 
explained  that  the  vessel  on  which  her  husband  had  embarked 
had  sprung  a  leak  on  the  last  da}-  and  sunk,  her  husband  being 
among  the  lost." 


"Too  Sick  to  Pray  or  Repent." 

333.  Rev.  J.  H.  Young  writes  of  a  lad}'  who  was  deeph'  im- 
pressed in  the  course  of  a  meeting  under  his  charge,  but  quenched 
the  Spirit  and  went  away  unsaved.  A  month  afterward  he  was 
called  to  visit  her,  and  found  her  ven,'  ill,  and  in  deep  distress 
about  her  soul.  After  reading  Scripture  promises  and  praying 
with  her,  he  tried  to  lead  her  to  Christ,  but  she  cried:  "  It  is  of 
no  use !  I  am  so  sick  that  I  cannot  get  m}*  mind  together.  I  am 
too  sick  to  pray  or  repent,  or  look  to  Jesus."  In  a  day  or  two 
she  died  without  hope.    Almost  persuaded,  but  lost ! 


D.AS'GER  OF  Procrastination. 

334.  Rev.  E.  Johnson  tells  of  a  3'oung  man  of  seventeen, 
who  had  been  repeatedly  implored  by  a  pious  mother  to  turn  to 
Christ,  but  had  always  replied  that  he  intended  to  do  so  some 
time ;  that  he  wished,  ho^\-ever,  to  sow  his  wild  oats  first,  and  en- 
joy  the  world  until  he  settled  do\vn  in  life.  During  a  quarterly 
meeting,  held  by  ^Mr.  Johnson  in  that  neighborhood,  the  j'oung 
man  took  sick,  became  almost  immediateh*  unconscious,  and, 
consistenth'  with  his  previous  profane  and  trifling  life,  was  blas- 
phemous and  ribald  in  his  delirium  to  an  extreme  degree.  He 
finally  died  in  this  state,  cursing  God  with  his  last  breath. 


''Kn-ew  When  to  Stop." 

335,    Men  cannot  postpone  Gkid's  hour  to  suit  themselves, 

nor  safely  venture  on  its  delay. 

James  L  ,  a  3-oung  fortune-seeker  in  California,  was  fond  of 

"seeing  life,"  and  did  not  scruple  to  familiarize  himself  with  its 
worst  phases.  He  could  do  it  safel}',  he  said,  because  he  ",alwa3^s 
knew  when  to  stop. ' '  ♦ 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


143 


But  tliere  came  a  time  wlien  he  did  not  stop  quickly  enough,  and 
chagrin  at  a  slip  that  he  made,  brought  with  it  some  serious  re- 
fledtion.  He  debated  whether  he  had  not  better  fight  shy  of  temp- 
tation for  a  while,  and  even  attend  religious  services,  to  "tone 
himself, "  as  he  phrased  it.  He  saw  that  his  neutral  ground  was 
dangerous.  An  interval  of  slightly  changed  associations  brought 
him  face  to  face  with  the  question  which  life  he  would  lead,  and 
what  god  he  w^ould  serve.  He  temporized,  and  gave  a  sacred  op- 
portunity away. 

It  was  soon  evident  which  way  the  balance  of  desire  had  turned 
with  him.  One  night  a  "variety"  performance  was  to  be  given 
in  a  certain  opera  house.  The  affair  was  more  than  questionable; 
it  was  immoral.  In  the  exercise  of  his  freedom,  James  went  to 
see  it.  The  curtain  rose  on  a  crowded  house.  The  j)lay  was  about 
to  commence,  when,  with  an  awful  crash,  the  building  collapsed, 
and  hundreds  were  killed  and  wounded  in  the  ruins.  James  was 
taken  out  dead,  his  soul  having  gone  before  its  Maker  unpre- 
pared. 


A  Cheap  Soul. 

336*  Said  a  thoughtless  young  man  to  his  sister,  w^ho  w^as 
tinder  deep  concern  for  her  soul,  "I'll  give  you  five  dollars  if 
you'll  quit  this  nonsense  and  be  yourself  again,"  She  took  the 
paltry  gift,  lived  without  religion,  and  died  without  hope. 


Warnings  Neglected. 

337*  Sinners  only  too  often  treat  the  warnings  of  the  gospel 
as  Julius  Caesar  did  the  paper  that  Artemidorus  gave  him.  On 
the  very  morning  that  the  senators  had  conspired  to  put  him  to 
death,  as  he  was  going  out,  his  friend  Artemidorus  handed  him  a 
writing  that  revealed  the  whole  plot.  But  instead  of  reading  it, 
Caesar  pocketed  the  warning,  as  if  it  were  an  ordinary  thing,  be- 
ing all  taken  up  himself  with  the  homage  of  the  people  in  the 
street.    And  so  he  went  to  his  death. 

Men  naturally  forget  their  need  of  the  Bible  while  they  are  be- 
ing pampered  with  prosperity  and  flattery. 


The  Fowls  of  the  Air  Devoured  It. 

338.  A  little  girl  came  home  from  church,  and  failed  to  repeat 
the  text  to  her  mother,  as  customary.    The  good  mother  cast  her 


144 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


deep  expressive  e^-es  reproachfully  on  her  forgetful  child.  ' '  How 
could  I,  mamma,  remember  such  a  long  text,  when  ever\'  lady  in 
the  congregation  had  on  a  bran'  new  dress  that  was  too  sweet  for 
an^-thing?  O,  mamma,  you'd  ought  to  have  been  to  church!" 
And  all  thoughts  of  the  text  were  forgotten,  as  she  described  what 
she  saw  to  her  loving  mother. 

^Nltich  in  the  same  way,  to  some  older  hearers,  Satan's  quick 
work  is  too  much  for  the  word. 


Gospel-Hardexed. 

339*  blacksmith's  dog  used  to  spend  most  of  its  time  in 
the  smithy,  and  thus  it  got  used  to  the  fire.  Other  dogs  came, 
and  the  moment  the  sparks  flew  the}'  ran  awa}-  in  terror,  but  the 
smith's  dog  would  sleep  in  the  midst  of  all,  undisturbed.  It 
would  scarceh'  leave  the  smithy,  but  used  to  sta}'  in  it  all  night. 
One  night  the  smithy  caught  fire,  and  the  dog  lost  its  life  in  the 
conflagration. 

How  man}'  hearers  have  become  too  familiar  with  the  warnings 
of  the  gospel  !  Many  have  taken  warning,  but  many  sleep  amid 
the  sparks. 


A  Texder-Hearted  Sixxer. 

340.  A  kindly,  well-disposed  gentleman,  a  worldling  of  pleas- 
ing manners,  who  had  a  great  respecl  for  ministers,  once  quitted 
an  assembly  which  Spurgeon  addressed,  as  he  afterward  said, 
' '  Because  I  felt  almost  on  the  go,  and  should  soon  have  been  con- 
verted if  I  had  not  rushed  out."  Said  he,  ''Spurgeon,  I  am  like 
an  India  rubber  doll  when  you  are  preaching ;  you  can  make  me 
into  any  shape  3-ou  like;  but  then  I  get  back  to  my  old  form 
when  3-0U  have  done."  He  was  pleased  and  excited,  but  not  per- 
suaded. 


Closixg  a  Reviv.ae. 

341.  Rev.  A.  B.  Earle,  the  well-known  evangelist,  tells  the 
following  incident:  A  soldier  had  had  one  of  his  limbs  ampu- 
tated, and  the  surgeon  gave  him  full  assurance  that  all  was  going 
well,  and  that  he  would  recover.  But  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours, 
the  chief  arter\'  broke  open.  The  nurse  immediately  put  his 
thumb  upon  it,  and  sent  for  the  surgeon.  It  was  decided  that 
the  arter}-  could  not  be  taken  up,  and  that  the  patient  must  die. 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


145- 


Only  as  tlie  nurse  was  able  to  keep  the  pressure  upon  the  artery 
could  life  be  prolonged.  The  unfortunate  man  made  all  his  ar- 
rangements for  death,  sending  messages  to  his  loved  ones,  and 
arranging  his  affairs.  When  all  was  done,  he  turned  to  the  nurse 
and  said,  "Now,  my  friend,  you  can  take  away  your  thumb;  I 
am  ready  to  die. ' '  But  the  nurse  could  hardly  make  up  his  mind 
to  take  away  his  thumb,  knowing  that  in  three  minutes  the  man's 
life  would  have  ebbed  away.  But,  finally,  turning  his  face  away 
from  the  dying  soldier,  he  lifted  his  thumb,  and  in  a  few  moments 
his  patient  was  a  corpse.  The  preacher  who  closes  a  revival 
service,  often  has  the  same  dreadful  sense  of  taking  away  the  last 
chance  some  souls  have  of  being  saved. 


2.  MAN'S  SALVATION. 


(l.)    THE  INVITATION. 


A  Strange  Messenger. 

342.  A  professional  diver  said  he  had  in  his  house  what  would 
probably  strike  a  visitor  as  a  very  strange  chimney  ornament — 
the  shells  of  an  oyster  holding  fast  a  piece  of  printed  paper.  The 
possessor  of  this  ornament  was  diving  on  the  coast,  when  he  ob- 
served at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  this  oyster  on  a  rock,  with  a  piece 
of  paper  in  its  mouth,  which  he  detached,  and  commenced  to  read 
through  the  goggles  of  his  head-dress.  It  was  a  gospel  tradl, 
and,  coming  to  him  thus  strangely  and  unexpedledly,  so  im- 
pressed his  unconverted  heart,  that  he  said,  "I  can  hold  out 
against  God's  mercy  in  Christ  no  longer,  since  it  pursues  me 
thus."  He  became,  whilst  in  the  ocean's  depth,  a  repentant,  con- 
verted, and  (as  he  was  assured)  sin-forgiven  man — saved  at  the 
bottom  of  the  sea. 


A  Free  GospeIv. 

343*  Rev.  C.  J.  Whitmore,  a  lyondon  evangelist,  once,  in  a 
rather  eccentric  way,  secured  an  illustration  of  the  kind  of  recep- 
tion men  give  to  a  free  gospel.  He  purchased  the  whole  stock  of 
a  street  herring  peddler,  and  then  hired  the  man  to  go  up  and 
down  with  the  basket,  and  cry,  "Herrings  for  nothing!"  No- 
body ^  would  take  them — and  the  man  came  back  to  his  employer 
in  disgust,  and  said,  * '  I  thought  ye  was  crazy  when  ye  bought 
10 


146 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


'em  and  told  me  to  give  'em  away,  but  these  folks  is  ten  times 
crazier."  The  missionary  had  to  go  round  with  him,  and  help 
him  get  rid  of  the  gratuitous  contents  of  the  basket ;  and  when 
some  who  finally  got  no  fish  were  taimted  by  the  peddler  for  re- 
fusing them  at  first,  they  said,  "We  didn't  believe  you  meant  it." 


A  Thunderboet. 

344.  There  were  twenty-two  men  in  prison  at  Atlanta.  All 
were  irreligious.  They  suffered  almost  every  privation ;  but  they 
spent  their  time  at  cards,  or  anything  else  of  the  sort.  One  day, 
when  all  were  thus  employed,  some  rebel  ofiicer  came  in  and  read 
the  names  of  eight  of  them,  with  the  order  for  their  execution. 
They  had  hardly  time  to  say  good-bye,  before  they  were  led  out 
and  hung.  The  awful  event  came  on  the  rest  like  a  thunderbolt. 
Cards  were  dropped.  Bibles  were  found,  they  had  daily  meetings 
for  prayer,  and  every  one  of  the  fourteen  was  able,  deliberately 
and  solemnly,  to  surrender  his  life  into  the  keeping  of  the  I^ord. 


vSaved  by  a  Fly. 

345.  A  tavern-keeper,  who  despised  religion,  attended  church 
one  Sunday  to  enjoy  the  organ  and  the  singing  of  the  trained 
choir,  for  he  was  very  fond  of  music. 

When  the  minister  rose  to  preach,  he  put  his  fingers  to  his  ears, 
determined  not  to  hear  any  of  the  sermon.  But  presently  a  fly 
settled  upon  his  face,  and  began  to  annoy  him.  He  endured  it 
as  long  as  he  could,  and  then  he  was  obliged  to  use  one  of  his 
hands  to  drive  the  insecft  away.  While  his  hand  was  thus  occu- 
pied, several  words  of  the  sermon  slipped  into  his  ear — and,  as 
God  would  have  it,  they  were  just  the  right  words. 

The  fly  continued  to  come  back  and  torment  him,  running  into 
his  eyes  and  nose  and  mouth,  till  at  last  he  was  glad  to  take  both 
his  hands  to  defend  himself.  This  exposed  him  to  a  full  volley 
of  gospel  truth,  and  by  this  time  his  attention  was  arrested,  and 
he  sat  through  the  rest  of  the  sermon  with  unstopped  ears. 

He  went  home  convicted;  came  again  an  inquirer,  submitted 
himself  to  Christ,  and  ever  afterward  lived  a  religious  life. 


Sammy's  Share. 

346.  A  poor  man,  who  was  somewhat  simple-minded,  became 
interested  during  a  revival,  and  presently  thought  that  he  had 
experienced  religion. 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


147 


He  came  to  be  examined  for  admission  to  the  churcli.  The 
committee  hesitated  some  over  his  case,  but  concluded  to  go  on. 

"Do  you" think,  Sammy,"  said  the  pastor,  "that  you  have  been 
bom  again  ? ' ' 

"I  think  I  have,"  was  the  answer. 

"Well,  if  so,  whose  work  is  it  ?" 

"O,  God  did  a  part,  and  I  did  a  part." 

'  *  Indeed !    What  part  did  you  do,  Sammy  ? ' ' 

"Why,  I  opposed  God  all  I  could,  and  he  did  the  rest'' 

Sammy's  experience  was  accepted,  and  he  was  received  into  the 
church. 


An  Unpaid  Vow. 

347.  Many  years  ago,  a  sailor  in  a  crowded  stage-coach,  trav- 
eling from  New  York  to  Boston,  related  to  the  other  passengers 
the  story  ot  his  recent  shipwreck,  and  how  he  alone  of  all  the 
crew  was  saved,  after  floating  for  several  days  and  nights  on  a 
plank.  His  hearers  were  much  interested,  and  pitied  the  man's 
misfortunes,  but  his  frequent  and  copious  use  of  profane  language 
in  his  narration  prompted  one  gentleman  to  ask  him  a  somewhat 
curious  question.  Taking  him  a  little  aside,  at  the  tavern  where 
the  stage  stopped  in  the  morning  for  a  change  of  horses,  he  said, 
* '  My  friend,  when  you  were  on  that  plank,  did  you  not  vow  to 
God  that  if  he  would  spare  you,  you  would  devote  your  life  to  his 
service  f 

"None  of  your  business,"  answered  the  sailor,  angrily.  And 
the  gentleman  said  no  more. 

The  next  evening  the  stage  reached  Providence,  where  the  pas- 
sengers took  lodgings  for  the  night.  At  daylight  the  next  morn- 
ing, the  gentleman  who  had  received  so  rough  an  answer  to  his 
question  was  roused  by  a  knock  on  his  door.  His  visitor  was  the 
shipwrecked  sailor. 

"I  could  not  sleep  last  night,"  said  the  sailor,  "and  I  have 
come  to  ask  j^our  pardon.  I  did  promise  God  that  if  he  would 
spare  my  life  I  would  devote  it  to  him — and  from  this  time  forth 
I  am  determined  to  do  so. " 


A  Blessed  Subscription. 

348.  Bishop  Harris,  in  a  private  conversation  recently,  re- 
lated the  following  incident,  which  ought  to  be  a  lesson  to  those 
preachers  who  are  afraid  to  ask  the  people  for  money  for  the  cause 
of  God.  The  Bishop  said :  ' '  One  morning  in  my  early  ministry 
I  started  out  to  secure  some  funds  to  buy  lamps  for  the  better 


148 


THB  GOSPElIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


lighting  of  my  ctiurcli.  Almost  the  first  man  I  met  was  a  noted 
atheist,  who  made  his  boast  that  he  had  not  been  inside  of  a 
church  for  twenty-five  years.  I  stopped  to  speak  with  him,  and, 
as  he  seemed  quite  friendly,  I  said  to  him:  'Mr.  Lamberton,  I 
am  out  this  morning  to  get  a  little  money  to  secure  the  better 
lighting  of  my  church.  I  am  well  aware  that  you  never  go  into 
our  church ;  but  it  may  be  3'ou  would  be  willing  to  give  some- 
thing for  the  comfort  of  those  who  do.*  He  took  out  his  pocket- 
book,  gave  me  five  dollars,  and  said,  *I  give  this,  not  for  the 
church,  but  for  your  Father's  sake.'  What  w^as  my  surprise  the 
very  next  Sabbath  evening  to  see  that  old  man  in  my  congrega- 
tion. He  was  on  the  ver}^  back  seat,  and  went  out  at  once  as  soon 
as  the  ser\nce  was  over.  But  he  came  again ;  he  was  convic^ted 
of  sin ;  God  converted  him.  He  lived  a  Christian  life,  and  died  a 
triumphant  death.  I  verily  believe  it  was  that  five-dollar  sub- 
scription that  led  to  this  happy  result. ' ' 


''Now  IS  THE  Accepted  Time." 

349*  Not  long  since,  as  a  clergyman  was  visiting  one  of  his 
parishioners,  who  was  a  man  of  business,  the  following  conversa- 
tion, substantially,  occurred:  "It  is  true,"  said  the  merchant,  "I 
am  not  satisfied  with  my  present  condition.  I  am  not  '  of  a  settled 
mind  in  religion,'  as  you  express  it.  Still  I  am  not  entirely  hope- 
less. I  may  yet  enter  the  vineyard,  even  st  the  elez'e?ifk  /lOur." 
"Ah!  your  allusion  is  to  the  Savior's  parable  of  the  loitering  la- 
borers who  wrought  one  hour  at  the  end  of  the  day.  But  you  have 
overlooked  the  facft  that  these  men  accepted  //le  first  ofifer.''  "Is 
that  so?"  "Certainly;  they  said  to  the  lord  of  the  vineyard, 
'No  man  hath  hired  us.'  They  welcomed  his  first  offer  immedi- 
ately." "True;  I  had  not  thought  of  that  before.  But  then  the 
thief  on  the  cross  even  while  dying  was  saved."  "  Yes ;  but  is  it 
likely  that  even  he  had  ever  rejected  an  offer  of  salvation  as 
preached  by  Christ  and  his  apostles  ?  Like  Barabbas,  he  had  been 
a  robber  by  profession.  In  the  resorts  and  haunts  to  which  he 
had  been  accustomed,  the  gospel  had  never  been  preached.  Is 
there  not  some  reason  to  believe  that  he,  too,  accepted  the  first 
offer  ? ' ' 


Waiting  God's  Time. 

350.  "Some  years  ago,"  saj'S  Dr.  Finney,  "I  met  a  woman 
in  Philadelphia,  who  was  anxious  about  her  soul,  and  had  been 
so  for  a  long  time.   I  conversed  with  her,  and  endeavored  to  learn 


re:vivai.  ane:cdotes. 


149 


lier  state  of  mind.  She  told  me  a  good  many  things,  and  finall3^ 
said  she  knew  she  ought  to  be  willing  to  wait  on  God  as  long  as 
he  had  waited  for  her.  He  had  waited,  she  said,  a  great  many 
years  before  she  would  give  an}-  attention  to  his  calls,  and  now 
she  believed  it  was  her  dut}^  to  wait  God's  time  to  show  mercy 
and  convert  her  soul. ' ' 

The  idea  of  comparing  Divine  patience  vnth  'human  neglect ! 
^* God's  time"  for  the  sinner  to  submit  to  him  is  now. 


"GivK  Your  Heart  to  God  Here." 

35r.  A  youth,  in  a  New  England  village,  met  his  minister  one 
day  in  the  street,  and  asked  him  what  he  should  do  to  be  saved. 
The  minister  told  him  to  go  home  and  kneel  down  in  his  chamber 
and  give  his  heart  to  God. 

"  Oh,  sir,"  said  the  boy,  "I  feel  so  badh',  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not 
live  to  get  home. ' ' 

The  minister  felt  the  unintended  rebuke,  saw  his  error,  and 
said,  ' '  Well,  then,  give  your  heart  to  God  /lej-e,  and  go  home  to 
your  chamber  and  tell  him  about  it." 


Distractions  Avoided. 

352.  A  3"oung  man,  who  was  in  a  state  of  spiritual  anxiety, 
said  to  his  pastor :  "I  shall  not  be  at  the  meeting  on  a  particular 
evening.  I  have  engaged  to  attend  a  part}'."  After  being  .shown 
the  danger  of  being  diverted,  in  his  peculiar  state  of  mind,  he 
came  to  the  meeting  and  gave  his  heart  to  Jesus.  At  my  sug- 
gestion, he  had  sent  the  ladies  a  note  of  regret,  giving  the  candid 
reasons  for  his  absence.  The  evening  after  the  party,  those  3'oung 
ladies  were  present  at  the  ser\-ice  for  the  first  time.  In  "a  few 
months,  four  adult  members  of  that  family  of  strangers  confessed 
Christ  in  that  church,  and  one  of  the  3'oung  ladies  aftenvard  be- 
came the  wife  of  the  young  man. 


A  Voice  from  the  Dead. 

353*  Ben  Randall,  a  profane  3-oung  sail-maker,  was  one  of 
the  crowd  that  rushed  to  hear  Whitefield  when  he  preached  in 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire.    He  went  repeatedh-,  drawn  hy  a 


150 


the:  gospkIv  worker's  trhasury. 


power  tie  could  not  understand  or  resist,  but  svrearing  about  the 
preacher  and  the  sermon  ever\'  time  he  came  awaj*. 

He  was  in  a  torment  of  conviction,  and  the  sensation  perplexed 
and  enraged  him;  and  though  when  ^Vhitefield  left  the  city  he 
could  have  followed  after,  so  vStrangely  had  the  wonderful  man 
fascinated  him,  3-et  his  serious  impressions  were  likeh-  to  be  soon 
effaced  when  that  eloquent  voice  was  be3-ond  his  hearing. 

In  a  few  daj'S,  however,  the  startling  announcement  came: 
"AVhitefield  is  dead!  Died  in  Xewbur3'  this  morning  at  six 
o'clock."  The  news  struck  j'oimg  Randall  like  a  thunder-clap. 
Pie  thought  how  he  had  reviled  him.  He  recalled  his  faithful 
words.  The  preacher  had  told  him  the  wa^'  to  heaven,  and  he 
had  not  regarded.  He  should  never  hear  his  voice  again.  A\Tiite- 
field  had  gone  to  be  a  witness  against  him  at  the  Judgment ! 

The  3'oung  man's  repentance  was  bitter  and  sincere.  His  con- 
version soon  followed,  and  he  became  a  preacher  of  righteousness 
himself.  Religious  histors'  now  knows  him  as  Rev.  Benjamin 
Randall,  of  Durham,  Xew  Hampshire,  the  founder  of  the  Free- 
will Baptist  Church. 


KixD  TO  Max,  L'xkixd  to  God. 

354*  A  kind-hearted  man,  who  had  long  refused  to  become  a 
Christian,  visited  a  minister  on  some  business  one  wild,  bluster- 
ing winter  night.  As  he  went  out  of  the  door  to  go  home,  the 
wind  swept  in  with  a  fearful  blast,  and  the  minister  remarked, 
' '  AVhat  an  awful  night  for  the  poor ! ' '  The  man  was  touched  by 
the  thought,  and  going  back  he  gave  the  minister  a  roll  of  bills, 
and  said,  ' '  Please  hand  these,  for  me,  to  the  poorest  people  you 
know."  After  a  few  da^'s,  the  minister  wrote  him  the  grateful 
thanks  of  the  poor  whom  his  bount}'  had  relieved,  and  added, 
' '  How  is  it  that  a  man  so  kind  to  his  fellow-creatures  has  always 
been  so  unkind  to  his  Savior  as  to  refuse  him  his  heart  ? ' '  The 
sentence  touched  him  to  the  core.  He  sent  for  the  minister,  and 
talking  the  matter  over,  decided  to  become  a  Christian. 


Whom  to  Brixg  First. 

355*  ^  minister  of  New  York  City  preached  on  the  text, 
"He  brought  him  to  Jesus"  ;  and  after  he  was  through,  his  little 
girl  told  him  that  she  liked  the  sermon.  Her  father  said,  "And 
whom  will  3'ou  bring  to  Christ She  answered,  "I  think  I  will 
bring  myself  first." 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTIIS. 


151 


"An  Easy  Job." 

356.  One  day,  at  a  fashionable  Bnglisli  watering-place,  a  com- 
pany of  clownish  singers  and  acftors  were  going  through  their 
comic  performances  in  the  street,  when  Mr.  Carr,  a  noble  Chris- 
tian worker,  well  known  in  Great  Britain  everywhere,  being  ap- 
plied toby  the  "tambourine-man"  for  his  penny,  offered  him  a 
shilling  instead,  on  condition  that  he  would  read  aloud  a  selecfted 
passage  in  the  Bible. 

"Hi",  mates,  here's  a  shilling  for  an  easy  job!"  shouted  the  fel- 
low,  and  Mr.  Carr  handed  him  a  Bible,  opened  at  the  story  of  the 
Prodigal  Son,  which  he  told  him  to  read. 

"Now,  speak  up,  Jem!"  said  his  comrades,  laughing,  and 
thinking  it  was  fine  fun;  and  "Jem"  began,  pronouncing  the 
words  very  well  indeed. 

As  he  went  on,  the  fellows  would  cry,  "That's  //lee,  Jem!"  or, 
"That's  us  at  every  telling  point  of  the  prodigal's  history,  till 
they  became  quite  sober  with  listening.  But  the  reader  grew 
sober  sooner  than  the  rest,  and  when  he  reached  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  verse,  ' '  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  will 
say  unto  him.  Father,  I  have  sinned  " — he  quite  broke  down.  The 
words  of  confession  were  involuntarily  made  his  own. 

That  day,  that  scene,  proved  the  turning-point  in  the  life  of 
poor  Jem.  He  sought  the  advice  of  the  Christian  friend,  who  had 
thus  providentially  interposed  for  his  deliverance.  Communica- 
tions were  made  to  his  parents,  which  resulted  in  a  long-lost  and 
dearly-loved  child  returning  to  the  familiar  earthly  home ;  and, 
still  better,  in  his  return  to  his  heavenl}^  Father. 


A  Trusty  Courtie:r's  Advic:^. 

357.  When  Duke  George  of  Saxony  lay  on  his  death-bed,  and 
was  yet  in  doubt  to  whom  he  should  flee  with  his  soul, — whether 
to  Christ  and  his  dear  merits,  or  to  the  Pope  and  his  good  works, 
— there  spoke  a  trusty  courtier  to  him,  ' '  Your  Grace,  Straight- 
forward makes  the  best  runner. ' ' 


(2.)  REPENTANCE. 


When  to  Stop  Sinning. 

358.  Rev.  R.  A.  Hitt  once  asked  a  young  man  who  seemed 
very  anxious  to  be  a  Christian,  and  who  had  been  seeking  for 


152 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


over  two  years,  and  still  called  liimself  a  sinner,  "Do  you  still 
indulge  in  sin  that  you  think  you  would  not,  if  you  were  con- 
verted?" He  answered,  "Yes;  I  expecft  to  quit  sinning  when  I 
am  converted."  Mr.  Hitt  said:  "That  is  the  very  reason  you  are 
not  saved.  You  must  stop  your  sinning;  that  is,  determine  to 
forsake  your  sins  once  for  all,  and  then  ask  the  Lord  to  forgive 
the  sins  already  committed. ' '  The  young  man  did  as  he  was  di- 
re(5led,  and  within  twenty-four  hours  he  was  rejoicing  in  Christ. 


*'I  Have  no  Feeling." 

359*  Many  persons  hesitate  to  adl  in  accordance  with  what 
they  know  to  be  right,  because  they  are  not  sensible  enough  of 
their  sins — lack  feeling.  But  if  one  knows  that  he  is  a  sinner, 
that  is  feeling  enough  to  a(5l  on.  We  cannot  command  ourselves 
to  feel  any  particular  sensation,  but  we  can  command  ourselves  to 
a(5t  in  accordance  with  what  we  believe  to  be  right.  Such  action 
is  just  as  acceptable  to  God  as  where  there  is  the  deepest  feeling. 
Rev.  M.  R.  Drury  once  knew  a  man  who  seemed  to  be  moved  by 
a  purely  intelle(5tual  perception  of  his  duty  in  giving  his  heart  to 
Christ.  He  was  convinced  that  it  was  right  to  love  and  serve 
God.  He  then  consecrated  himself  unconditionally  and  unre- 
servedly to  the  service  of  a  Christian  life,  living  a  life  of  trust  and 
obedience  without  the  least  apparent  feeling.  But  he  accepted 
Christ,  and  began  to  work  for  him,  and  not  long  after,  when  others 
were  coming  to  the  Savior  and  were  rejoicing  in  his  love,  he  said 
to  Mr.  Drury,  with  eyes  suffused  with  tears,  "I  thank  God  for 
tears."  He  had  feeling  enough  then.  The  wav  to  get  feeling  is 
to  adl. 


"They  Come  Clear  Out." 

360.  Ko-San-Lone,  a  converted  Chinese,  when  in  America 
on  a  visit,  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  little  difference  he  saw 
between  the  style  of  living  of  many  professing  Christians  and  the 
people  of  the  world. 

Adverting  to  the  matter  on  one  occasion,  he  said,  making  at  the 
same  time  a  large  sweep  with  his  arm,  "When  the  disciples  in 
my  country  come  out  from  the  world,  tkey  come  clear  out.'' 


A  Boy's  Rebuke. 

361.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Hoddam  Castle,  Dumfries-shire, 
Scotland,  there  was  once  a  tower  called  the  "Tower  of  Repent- 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


153 


ance."  What  gave  the  tower  its  name,  we  are  not  told,  but  it  is 
said  that  an  English  baronet,  walking  near  the  castle,  saw  a  shep- 
herd lad  lying  upon  the  ground,  reading  attentively.  "What  are 
you  reading,  lad?"  "The  Bible,  sir."  "The^  Bible,  indeed!" 
laughed  the  gentleman ;  ' '  then  you  must  be  wiser  than  the  par- 
son. Can  you  tell  me  the  way  to  heaven?"  "Yes,  sir,  I  can," 
replied  the  boy,  in  no  way  embarrassed  by  the  mocking  tone  of 
the  other;  "you  must  go  by  way  of  yonder  tower."  The  gen- 
tleman saw  that  the  boy  had  learned  right  well  the  lesson  of  his 
book,  and,  being  rebuked,  he  walked  away  in  silence.  Does  the 
reader  know  anything  of  the  Tower  of  Repentance  ?  If  not,  let 
him  learn. 


An  Ineidei^'s  Dieficulties. 

362.    Several  years  ago.  Rev.  M.  R.  Drury  met  a  man,  in  a 

meeting,  who  was  avowedly  skeptical.  He  was  a  very  intelligent 
man,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  be  a  Christian,  provided  certain 
mysterious  qviestions  could  be  clearly  explained  to  him.  After  a 
very  earnest  effort  to  lead  him  to  the  light,  the  meeting  closed, 
and  he  went  away,  vStill  clinging  to  his  skepticism.  About  four 
o'clock  the  next  morning,  he  became  so  agitated  in  mind  that  he 
could  not  sleep.  He  was  thoroughly  convinced  that  all  was  not 
right  between  his  soul  and  God.  He  arose  to  his  knees  on  his 
bed,  and  cried  out,  "O  God,  if  there  is  any  reality  in  religion, 
come  to  my  heart  and  save  me  from  'my  sins."  At  that  moment 
his  faith  laid  hold  on  the  promises  of  God's  Word,  and  salvation 
full  and  joyous  came  to  his  heart.  All  his  difficulties,  which  had 
so  troubled  him,  were  gone.  Spiritual  knowledge  and  assurance 
come  through  the  channel  of  obedience;  as  Jesus  says,  "If  any 
man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  dodlrine." 


Beginning  in  the  Middi^e. 

363,  Many  a  man  would  like  to  begin  the  Christian  life  if  he 
could  begin  it  somewhere  in  the  middle.  If  he  could  only  turn 
about  when  nobody  was  looking;  if,  when  all  the  world  were 
asleep  or  away,  he  could  slip  quietly  into  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  take  his  seat  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  had  been  seated  there 
all  the  time !  It  is  the  turning  over  of  the  leaf  when  everybody 
is  reading  it — it  is  the  right-about  face  on  the  crowded  street, 
when  everybody  will  see  the  a.<St  and  what  it  means — this  it  is 
which  makes  it  easier  to  put  off"  till  to-morrow  the  supreme  duty 
which  ought  to  be  done  to-day. 


154 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Doing  Duty  Brings  Conviction. 

364.  Rev.  A.  B.  Earle  relates  the  following  experience: — 
"A  man  knelt  for  pra3-er,  in  one  of  our  meetings,  at  the  same 
time  saying:  "I  have  no  feeling,  but  act  pureh*  on  nw  judgment. 
I  know  I  ought  to  become  a  Christian. "  In  a  dsij  or  two  he  saw 
clearh'  the  justice  of  God  in  his  condemnation.  He  came  to  my 
room,  in  the  night,  in  the  greatest  distress,  crs'ing  out,  almost  in 
despair:  "\\Tiat  shall  I  do!  what  shall  I  dof  Oh,  I  am  such  a 
sinner ! ' ' 


Xo  Unconditional  Surrender. 

365.  The  following  incident  occurred  in  the  native  village  of 
Rev.  J.  AV.  Kilboum.  During  a  meeting  held  there  several  3-ears 
ago,  a  man  who  had  been  exceedingly  wicked  became  deeph^  con- 
victed. The  Spirit  strove  with  him  so  powerfully  that  he  had  no 
rest,  b}-  da\'  or  night.  He  would  rise  from  his  bed,  and  in  a  perfecT: 
agony  of  soul,  pray  for  merc}'.  He  would  attend  the  meetings, 
ask  the  Christians  to  pra^-  for  him,  converse  vdth  them  freely 
about  his  condition,  but  persistenth^  refused  to  go  to  the  altar  of 
pra^'er.  ]\Ir.  K.  met  him  in  the  congregation  one  night,  and 
pressed  him  to  make  a  full  surrender,  urging  that  he  must  3'ield 
to  God's  will  if  he  would  be  saved.  He  persisted  in  refusing. 
The  meeting  closed,  and  he  was  not  converted.  The  Spirit  utterly 
forsook  him,  and  he  went  from  bad  to  worse,  became  a  saloon 
gambler,  and  indireclh"  a  murderer.  His  famih^  was  broken  up, 
his  wife  obtained  a  divorce,  and  he  is  a  waif  and  a  criminal. 


Complete  Self-Surrender. 

366.  "I'll  give  him  mj  blanket,"  thought  the  awakened  In- 
dian, anxious  for  the  peace  of  Christ.  But  he  looked  at  the 
blanket,  and  felt  that  it  was  good  for  nothing.  "He  ma}- have 
m^'  gun,"  he  said,  making  a  still  greater  effort  of  sacrifice.  But 
no,  that  would  not  do.  At  last  he  cried,  "Here's  poor  Indian: 
take  me.''    And  then  he  knew  that  his  offering  was  accepted. 

One's  self  is  alwaj-s  his  best.    Read  Romans  12:  i,  2. 


Xo  Sleeping  Partners  Wanted. 

367,  During  a  revival  of  religion  in  Brookh-n,  a  business 
man  called  upon  the  minister,  and  said,  "I  come  to  inquire  if 


RBVIVAI,  ANECDOTES. 


155 


Jesus  Ciirist  will  take  me  into  the  concern  as  a  sleeping  partner, ' ' 
' '  Why  do  you  ask  ? ' '  said  the  minister.  ' '  Because  I  wish  to  be  a 
member  of  the  firm,  and  do  not  wish  anybody  to  know  it."  The 
reply  was,  "Christ  takes  no  sleeping  partners." 


The  Indian's  Explanation. 

368.  The  poor  Indian's  illustration  is  the  best  one  after  all. 
An  Indian  and  a  white  man  were  convicfted  of  sin  at  the  same 
time.  The  Indian  soon  rejoiced  in  hope,  while  the  other  struggled 
long  in  distress  of  mind  before  he  found  forgiving  peace.  He 
could  not  understand  it,  and  some  time  afterward  he  asked  the 
Indian  how  it  was. 

"It's  like  this,"  said  the  Indian:  "A rich  man  come  along  and 
offer  a  fine  new  coat.  You  look  at  your  old  coat,  and  you  say, 
'This  pretty  good  yet;  I'll  keep  it  a  little  longer.'  Rich  man 
offer  me  new  coat,  and  I  look  at  my  old  blanket,  and  say,  'This 
good  for  nothing. '    I  throw  it  right  away  and  take  new  coat. ' ' 


God  Claims  the  Whole  Heart. 

369.  Mention  is  made  of  an  ancient  king  who  set  out  to  visit 
a  certain  city  of  his  realm,  and  dispatched  a  harbinger  to  an- 
nounce his  coming,  and  order  suitable  lodgings  for  himself  and 
his  retinue.  The  harbinger  sele(5led  a  house,  and  gave  command 
to  vacate  it  immediately.  The  owner  asked  permission  to  retain 
one  little  chamber  where  his  wife  and  children  could  stay. 

It  was  refused. 

He  begged  for  a  closet,  where  he  could  leave  a  chest  packed 
with  his  richest  fine  goods. 

No;  the  command  was  absolute.  He  must  clear  the  rooms. 
"Were  your  house  twice  as  big  as  it  is,"  said  the  harbinger,  "the 
whole  of  it  would  be  little  enough  to  entertain  the  king. ' ' 


A  Soldier's  Conversion. 

370.  Mr.  Moody  tells  of  having  asked  a  soldier  for  the  process 
of  his  conversion.  The  soldier's  graphic  answer  was:  "Halt!" 
' '  Attention ! "    "  Right-about  face ! "    "  March ! ' ' 


156 


THE  GOSPEI.  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Must  Have  it  All. 

371.  In  the  early  secession  days,  a  Conference  of  Peace  Com- 
missioners met  at  Fortress  Monroe,  when  every  effort  was  made 
to  secure  President  I^incoln's  consent  to  a  division  that  might 
stay,  for  a  time,  the  bloody  war.  He  finall}^  brought  down  his 
hand  upon  the  map  of  his  country,  exclaiming,  ' '  This  govern- 
ment is  to  have  it  all r'' 

Half-heartedness  is  secession  and  treason.  Vidtory  can  only 
come  with  thorough  loyalty. 


**No  Terms  with  God." 

372.  William  Burns  was  preaching  one  evening  in  the  open 
air,  to  a  vast  multitude.  He  had  just  finished,  when  a  man  came 
timidly  up  to  him,  and  said,  "Oh,  sir,  will  you  come  and  see  my 
dying  wife ' '  Burns  consented ;  but  the  man  immediately  said, 
"I  am  afraid  when  yovi  know  where  she  is,  you  won't  come."  "I 
will  go  wherever  she  is,"  he  replied.  The  man  then  tremblingly 
told  him  that  he  was  the  keeper  of  the  lowest  public  house  in  one 
of  the  most  wretched  distri(fts  of  the  town.  "It  does  not  mat- 
ter," said  the  missionary.  As  they  went,  the  man,  looking  up  in 
the  face  of  God's  servant,  said,  earnestly,  "  I  am  going  to  give  it 
up  at  the  term. ' '  Burns  replied,  ' '  There  are  no  terms  with  God. ' ' 
However  much  the  poor  trembling  publican  tried  to  get  Burns  to 
converse  with  him  about  the  state  of  his  soul  and  the  way  of  sal- 
vation, he  was  unable  to  draw  another  word  from  him  than  these, 
"There  are  no  terms  with  God."  The  shop  at  last  was  reached. 
After  a  little  conversation  with  the  dying  woman,  the  servant  of 
the  Ivord  engaged  in  prayer,  and  while  he  was  praying  the  publi- 
can left  the  room;  soon  a  loud  noise  was  heard,  something  like 
a  rapid  succession  of  determined  blows  with  a  great  hammer. 
Was  this  not  a  most  unseemly  noise  to  make  on  such  an  occasion 
as  this  ?  Is  the  man  mad  1  No !  When  Bums  reached  the  street, 
he  beheld  the  wreck  of  the  publican's  sign-board,  strewn  in  splin- 
ters upon  the  pavement.  The  business  was  given  up  for  good 
and  all.  The  man  had  in  earnest  turned  his  back  on  his  low  pub- 
lic house,  and  returned  to  the  Lord. 


"Something  to  Make  Right." 


373,  Rev.  I/.  Bookwalter  tells  of  a  man,  in  a  meeting  which 
lie  once  held,  who  had  been  at  the  altar  night  after  night  with- 


REjvivAiv  ankcdote;s. 


157 


out  receiving  tlie  blessing  of  assurance.  At  last,  one  evening  he 
arose  from  the  altar,  took  his  hat,  and  when  asked  what  he  was 
proposing  to  do,  said,  "I  have  something  to  make  right,"  He 
walked  nearly  a  mile  to  where  a  neighbor  lived,  for  whom  he  had 
occasionally  worked,  woke  him  up  by  his  calls,  and  asked  him  to 
come  out,  as  he  wished  to  talk  with  him.  The  neighbor  came  out, 
wondering  what  his  friend  wanted.  The  latter  said :  ' '  When  you 
paid  me  for  my  last  work,  you  gave  me  a  gold  piece,  by  mistake, 
for  a  silver  one.  I  have  come  to  restore  what  belongs  to  you," 
and  handed  him  the  difference.  Then  he  walked  back  to  the 
church,  and  was  soon  gloriously  converted. 


One  Idoi.  Retained. 

374,  It  is  related  that  in  the  days  of  the  primitive  Christians, 
a  heathen  named  Chromatins,  being  sick,  sent  for  a  famous  phy- 
sician to  prescribe  for  him.  The  physician  was  a  very  godly  man, 
as  well  as  a  very  skillful  one,  and  he  told  Chromatins  that  he 
could  cure  him  provided  he  first  destroyed  all  his  idols.  The  sick 
man  seemed  to  consent. 

"Take  my  keys,"  said  he,  "and  search  mj^  house,  and  spoil 
every  image  you  can  find." 

This  was  done;  but  the  sick  man  did  not  get  well,  and  com- 
plained accordingly.  Said  the  pious  physician,  "There  is  one 
idol  hidden  in  your  house  yet;  that  must  be  destroyed,  too." 

"It  is  true,"  replied  Chromatins;  "I  confess  it.  There  is  one; 
but  it  is  all  of  beaten  gold,  and  it  cOvSt  me  two  hundred  pounds. 
I  would  have  saved  it,  but  here,  take  this  key ;  you  will  find  the 
golden  idol  in  my  chest.    Go  and  break  it  in  pieces." 

And  when  this  was  done,  the  sick  man  soon  recovered. 


An  IdoIv  in  the  Way. 

375.  An  obstrudlion  in  the  pocket  held  a  man  back  from  Christ 
at  a  Salvation  Army  meeting  at  Germantown,  Pennsylvania,  re- 
cently. The  leader  of  the  meeting  says :  ' '  When  prayer-meeting 
began,  a  man  came  forward  and  knelt  at  the  penitent  form,  but 
for  a  while  seemed  to  be  holding  on  to  sojucthing  which  he  could 
not  give  up.  At  last  special  prayer  was  offered  in  that  direction 
for  him,  and  at  the  close  he  pulled  several  dime  songs  and  novels 
of  a  theatrical  characfter  out  of  his  pocket,  and  said,  '  Burn  these ; 
I  had  better  have  had  a  Bible  in  my  pocket. '  Immediately  upon 
his  surrendering  here  he  found  peace. ' ' 


158 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


"Good-bye,  Boys." 

376.  Rev.  T.  D.  Adams,  of  Iowa,  was  eamestlj^  preaching- 
one  Sabbath,  urging  sinners  to  flee  to  Christ,  when  a  young  man 
near  the  door  arose,  the  tears  streaming  down  his  face,  and  with 
an  arm  stretched  out  toward  his  companions,  and  with  a  voice 
trembling  with  emotion,  exclaimed:  "  Good-bj'e,  Henry;  good- 
b3'e,  James;  good-bye,  boys,  all  of  3'ou!  If  you  won't  go  with 
me  to  heaven,  I  won't  go  with  you  to  hell!"  He  started  up  the 
aisle,  and  came  and  stood  just  in  front  of  the  stand,  crjdng  aloud, 
"Oh!  praj^  for  me."  The  congregation  immediately  knelt  in 
prayer,  and  in  a  little  while  he  was  happy  in  Christ.  He  is  now 
a  class-leader  and  a  Sunday-school  superintendent. 


"Stick  to  It." 

377.  Bishop  Weaver  was  the  first  one  in  a  family  of  thirteen 
to  seek  Christ,  but  not  finding  peace,  he  joined  the  church  as  a 
seeker.  His  father  was  at  this  time  not  a  Christian,  and  he  was 
afraid  to  tell  him  what  he  had  done.  As  he  himself  tells  the 
storj^:  "One  day  we  were  in  the  barn  together,  and  all  of  a  sud- 
den, he  said  to  me,  'Jonathan,  I  understand  ^-ou  joined  church.' 
It  went  through  me  like  a  knife,  for  I  did  not  know  what  would 
come  next.  But  to  my  surprise,  he  said,  'Well,  as  3'ou  have 
started,  I  want  you  to  stick  to  it.'  That  gave  me  courage.  I  was 
at  the  mourners'  bench  seventeen  times.  It  was  six  months  after 
I  started  before  I  found  peace.  Sometimes  I  would  get  discour- 
aged, but  my  father's  words,  'Stick  to  it,'  still  rang  in  my  ears. 
And  I  can  still  hear  my  father's  words  urging  me  to  'stick  to  it.' " 


(3.)  CONVERSION. 


Important  Business. 

378,  During  Mr.  Moody's  meetings  in  London,  a  certain 
business  man  was  converted,  and  his  brother  restored  from  back- 
sliding. They  had  another  brother  in  the  south  of  Ireland  who 
was  not  a  Christian,  and  the}-  telegraphed  him,  "Come  at  once; 
very  important  business."  He  came  to  London,  and  they  took 
him  into  their  private  office,  and  with  streaming  eyes  told  him  of 
their  desire  for  his  conversion.    They  brought  him  to  the  meet- 


RKVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


159 


ing  that  evening,  and  into  the  inquiry-room,  and  lie  became  a 
Christian.  That  dispatch  was  truthful — "Very  important  busi- 
ness." 


Hkr  Course  Must  be  Changed. 

37Q,  A  captain  at  sea  discovers  that,  by  some  mistake,  the 
steersman  is  steering  the  ship  dire(5lly  for  the  rocks.  How  is  the 
danger  to  be  avoided  ?  By  scrubbing  the  decks,  or  setting  the  men 
to  the  pumps  ?  No !  these  things  are  good  enough  in  their  own 
time,  but  if  the  ship  is  to  be  saved,  one  thing  must  be  done, — her 
course  must  be  changed.  So  the  captain  utters  a  few  quick  words, 
and  the  ship  turns  and  speeds  away  from  the  danger. 


The  One  Thing  Needeui.. 

380.  A  college  professor  was  being  rowed  across  a  stream  in 
a  boat.  Said  he  to  the  boatman,  "Do  you  understand  philoso- 
phy.?" "No,  never  heard  of  it."  "Then  one  quarter  of  your 
life  is  gone.  Do  you  understand  geology?"  "No."  "Then 
one  half  of  your  life  is  gone.  Do  you  understand  astronomy?" 
"No."  "Then  three  quarters  of  your  life  are  gone."  But  pres- 
ently the  boat  tipped  over  and  spilled  both  into  the  river.  Says 
the  boatman,  "Can  you  swim?"  "No."  "Then  the  whole  of 
your  life  is  gone." 

No  acquirements  can  help  in  man's  extremity,  when  the  grace 
that  saves  the  soul  is  wanting. 


"The  Ci^am-SheIvIv  Man." 

381*  A  ragged  school  in  Hartford  was  visited  by  Dr.  Beadle 
one  Sunday.  He  won  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  motley  and  often 
unmanageable  crowd,  by  holding  up  a  common  clam-shell,  and 
calling  out,  "Boys,  what's  that?"  "A  clam-shell,"  cried  a  hun- 
dred voices.  "Yes,  it's  a  clam-shell, — a  rough,  coarse,  clam-shell; 
just  such  a  shell  as  you  could  pick  up  any  day  by  the  bank  of  the 
river,  or  back  in  the  country  by  a  brook  in  the  woods."  Then, 
turning  the  shell  quickly  in  his  hand,  he  showed  the  other  valve, 
beautifully  polished,  its  iridescent  colors  refledling  the  light  at- 
tradlively.  * '  And  what  is  that,  boys  ?  "  he  said.  * ' That's  a  clam- 
shell, too,"  was  the  answer.  "Yes;  but  see  how  much  prettier 
this  side  is.    What  makes  the  difference?"    "It's  been  rubbed 


160 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


down,"  said  one.  "It's  been  smoothed  off,"  said  another.  "It's 
been  polished  up,"  said  a  third.  "Yes,  that's  it.  And,  boys,  do 
you  know  that's  just  what  we  are  trying  to  do  with  you  in  this 
Sunday-school  ?  We've  brought  some  of  you  in  here  as  rough  as 
the  other  side  of  the  clam-shell ;  and  now  we  are  trying  to  rub 
you  down,  to  smooth  you  off,  to  polish  you  up,  so  that  you'll 
shine  like  this  side  of  the  shell.  This  polishing  business  is  hard 
work,  boys,  and  it  takes  time;  but  it  pays."  Then  he  pressed 
home  the  need  of  soul-polishing  in  words  which  were  never  for- 
gotten in  that  room.  Dr.  Beadle  was  thenceforward  known  by 
those  boys  as  "the  clam-shell  man„" 


A  Queer  Conversion. 

382.  A  young  man  who  had  been  drinking  very  hard,  found 
himself  threatened  with  an  attack  of  delirium  tremens.  For 
several  nights  he  could  not  sleep,  being  troubled  with  horrible 
phantasms.  Thoroughly  frightened,  he  determined  to  reform. 
Securing  a  New  Testament,  he  placed  it  under  his  pillow  at  night, 
and  his  sleep  was  undisturbed  and  his  dreams  pleasing.  This  he 
accepted  as  the  sign  of  his  conversion,  and  he  joined  the  church. 
He  refused  to  testify,  soon  ceased  to  come  to  the  church  service, 
and  finally  went  back  into  a  life  of  sin. 


His  Certificate  of  Regeneration. 

383.  The  lyord  Jesus  received  his  credentials  at  the  moment 
of  baptism.    But  baptismal  credentials  are  sometimes  overrated 

by  his  professed  followers.    A  young  man  applied  to  Bishop  

for  ordination.  The  case  looked  a  little  crooked,  and  the  Bishop 
said,  "I  vStand  in  doubt  of  your  regeneration."  "O,  yes,  my 
lord,"  was  the  reply;  "I  anticipated  the  difficulty,  and  have 
brought  with  me  my  baptismal  certificate." 

The  New  Testament  nowhere  teaches  that  a  sinner  becomes  a 
new  creature  in  Christ  by  baptism  alone. 


A  Fai,se  PIopE. 

384.  Finney  gives  the  case  of  a  woman  whose  life  was  thor- 
oughly unchrivStian  in  spirit,  but  who,  nevertheless,  made  a  pro- 
fession of  religion.    On  inquiry,  it  was  learned  that  the  basis  of 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


161 


her  peace  of  mind  was  a  dream  she  had  had  when  a  girl.  When 
she  came  to  die  her  eyes  were  opened,  and  she  went  into  eternity 
crying,  ' '  I  am  lost ! ' ' 


"Get  the  Blesser." 

385.  At  a  camp  at  Goshen,  New  York,  a  minister  was  shout^ 
ing  to  inquirers  to  persevere  in  seeking  the  blessing,  when  Rev* 
Dr.  Inskip,  the  master  spirit,  cried  out,  beginning  with  a  sneer 
and  ending  with  a  sentence  with  a  pathos  not  easily  imitated: 
' ' Get  the  blessing !  Humph !  Get  the  Blesser ! "  "He  that  hath 
the  Son  hath  life." 


The  Lord's  Treatment  oe  Sinners. 

386.  A  person  who  could  not  swim  had  fallen  into  the  water. 
A  man  who  could  swim  sprang  in  to  save  him.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  at  once  taking  hold  of  the  struggling  man,  he  kept  at 
some  distance  from  him,  until  he  had  ceased  struggling ;  he  then 
laid  hold  upon  him,  and  pulled  him  ashore.  Asked  why  he  did 
not  at  once  take  hold  of  the  drowning  person,  he  replied,  "I 
could  not  attempt  to  save  a  man  so  long  as  he  tried  to  save  him- 
self." 


"Run  eor  the  Shore." 

387.  In  a  great  thaw  on  one  of  the  American  rivers,  there 
was  a  man  on  one  of  the  cakes  of  ice,  which  was  not  yet  acftually 
separated  from  the  unbroken  mass.  In  his  terror,  however,  he  did 
not  see  this,  but  knelt  down  and  began  to  pray  aloud  for  God  to 
deliver  him.  The  spectators  on  the  shore  cried  loudly  to  him, 
"Man,  man,  stop  praying,  and  run  for  the  shore ! "  So,  one  could 
advise  the  penitent,  "Rest  not  in  praying,  but  believe  in  Jesus." 


"To  Him  that  Worketh  Not." 

388.  A  few  yeara  ago,  at  the  close  of  one  of  the  free  break- 
fasts for  the  poor,  in  Edinburgh,  a  Christian  lady  noticed  a  man 
walking  slowly  up  and  down,  evidentlj^  uneasy  and  anxious. 
She  went  up  to  him  and  asked  if  he  was  a  Christian.  "No,"  he 
said,  "but  I  am  going  to  be,  though  not  yet,  for  I  am  not  just  yet 
ready."  "But  'now  is  the  accepted  time,'"  she  replied;  "and 
11 


162 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY, 


the  very  first  thing  you  are  asked  to  do,  is  to  receive  Christ." 
"Don't  tell  me,"  he  said,  "that  I  can  be  saved  without  doing 
an3^thing. ' '  As  he  was  saj'ing  this,  a  little  bo}' ,  of  about  eleven 
years  of  age,  who  had  been  looking  out  a  passage  in  his  Bible, 
touched  the  lady,  and,  holding  the  Bible  open,  said,  "Please  read 
that  to  him."  It  was  Romans  4:  5.  The  lad^^  read  it.  The  man 
listened  most  attentively,  and,  after  a  little,  exclaimed,  "It's  a 
facT;!  God  says  it,  '  To  him  that  worketh  7iot.'  "  The  word,  to  all 
appearance,  entered  his  soul  with  saving  power,  and  then,  in  the 
warmth  of  his  gratitude,  grasping  the  lady's  hand,  he  said,  "I'll 
thank  you  all  the  daj^s  of  mj'  life ! " 


An  Inquirer's  Dream. 

389.  One  night,  an  inquirer,  long  under  deep  convidlion,  but 
still  unsaved,  dreamed  that  he  was  walking  along  the  edge  of  a  ter- 
rible precipice,  and  fell  over  it  into  a  horrible  abyss.  As  he  was 
falling,  he  grasped  a  little  branch  of  some  bush  that  was  growing 
half-wa3^  down.  There  he  hung,  and  cried  for  help.  He  could 
feel  the  branch  giving  way.  He  looked  into  the  dark  yawning 
gulf  beneath,  and  again  cried  out  for  help.  lyooking  up,  he  saw, 
in  his  dream,  Christ  standing  on  the  edge,  and  saying,  "Let  go 
the  twig,  and  I  will  save  3'ou."  Looking  at  the  terrible  abyss  be- 
low, he  could  not.  He  cried  again;  and  again  came  the  same 
answer.  At  length,  he  felt  the  branch  slipping,  and  in  the  utter 
desperateness  of  his  despair,  he  let  go  the  h^ancJi — when,  lo!  in 
an  instant,  the  arms  of  Jesus  were  about  him,  and  he  was  safe. 
He  awoke.  It  was  but  a  dream  of  the  night.  Yet  from  the  vivid- 
ness and  instrucftiveness  of  its  imagery,  he  was  enabled  to  let  go 
every  false  confidence,  and  rel3^  onlj^  on  the  true. 


The  Thirsty  Invited  to  Drink. 

390.  During  a  re\dval  in  a  town  in  Ohio,  a  man  who  had 
been  very  worldU^-minded  was  awakened,  but  for  some  time  con- 
cealed his  feelings,  even  from  his  wife,  who  was  a  praying  woman. 
She  left  him  one  evening  in  charge  of  his  little  girl  of  three  years 
of  age.  After  her  departure,  his  anxiety  of  mind  became  so  great 
that  he  walked  the  room  in  his  agony.  The  little  girl  noticed 
his  agitation,  and  inquired,  "  What  ails  you,  pa?"  He  replied, 
"Nothing,"  and  endeavored  to  quiet  his  feelings,  but  all  in  vain. 
The  child  looked  up  s^^mpathizingly  into  his  face,  and  inquired, 
with  all  the  artlessness  and  simplicity  of  childhood,  ''Pa,  if  you 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


163 


were  dry,  wouldn't  you  go  and  get  a  drink  of  water  f ' '  The  father 
started,  as  if  a  voice  from  heaven  had  fallen  on  his  ear.  He 
thought  of  his  thirsty  soul  famishing  for  the  waters  of  life ;  he 
thought  of  that  living  fountain  opened  in  the  gospel;  he  believed, 
and  straightway  fell  at  the  Savior's  feet.  From  that  hour  he  dates 
the  dawning  of  a  new  light,  and  the  beginning  of  a  new  life. 


Good  Advice. 

391.  During  a  revival  in  Glasgow,  a  little  girl,  who  had  just 
found  the  peace  of  faith,  w^as  overheard  counseling  one  of  her 
anxious  playmates : 

**I  say,  lassie,  do  as  I  did;  grip  a  promise,  an""  haud  to  7." 


God  Says  Peace. 

392.  One  day,  in  the  closing  campaign  of  the  last  bloody 
v^^ar  with  the  Turks,  a  soldier  ran  through  the  Russian  camp  in 
the  Balkan  Mountains,  shouting,  "Peace!  Peace!" 

The  news  excited  the  whole  army,  but  it  seemed  too  good  to  be 
true.  Eager  men,  thinking  of  the  glad  return  to  their  wives  and 
children,  seized  the  messenger,  and  fiercely  demanded,  "  Who 
says  peace?'' 

"The  Czar  says  peace,"  replied  the  vSoldier.  And  then  the 
mountains  rang  with  hurras  of  gladness. 

The  High  Priest's  word  was  not  enough  to  assure  the  confess- 
ing Israelite.  Not  even  Moses'  word  was  enough.  He  must 
know  that  God  says  "Peace." 


"Then  I've  Got  It!" 

3Q3»  ''Some  years  ago,"  relates  a  clergyman,  "I  was  leaving 
a  hall  in  Glasgow,  in  which  I  had  been  preaching  the  gospel, 
when  a  respedlable  man,  with  a  very  eager  face,  stretched  out  his 
hand  and  grasped  mine,  saying : 

"  'Sir,  I  am  very  anxious  to  get  salvation.' 

"  'Then,'  I  said,  'God  is  very  anxious  to  save  you,' 

"He  listened  earnestly  to  hear  what  I  would  say  to  him,  hoping 
some  word  would  give  him  peace ;  but  I  only  put  the  gospel  to 
him  in  the  most  familiar  texts  of  Scripture.  As  I  reminded  him 
that  '  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only-begotten  Son, 


164 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life,'  he  stopped  me  by  saying:  — 
"  'But  I  do  believe  in  Jesus.' 

"I  replied,  'Jesus  said,  "He  that  believeth  on  me  hath  ever- 
lasting life."  ' 

"A  look  of  astonishment  and  joy  immediately  broke  over  his 
face,  as  he  said:  'Then  I've  got  it!  Thank  God,  I've  got  ever- 
lasting life.' " 


Faith  Brings  Peace. 

394.  There  is  among  the  Hebrews  a  legend  of  two  sisters, 
who,  during  the  night  when  the  first-born  of  Eg^^pt  were  de- 
stroyed, had  gone  with  the  rest  of  their  family  into  their  dwell- 
ing. One  of  them  stood  all  ready  to  depart,  and  began  quietl}' 
eating  her  portion  of  the  roast  body  of  the  lamb,  her  mind  at 
perfect  peace  and  rest.  The  other  was  walking  about  the  dwell- 
ing, full  of  terrible  fear  lest  the  destroying  angel  should  penetrate 
therein.  This  one  reproached  her  sister  for  being  so  careless  and 
confident,  and  finall}'  asked  her  how  she  could  be  so  full  of  assur- 
ance when  the  angel  of  death  and  judgment  was  abroad  in  the 
land.  The  reply  was :  ' '  Why,  sister,  the  blood  has  been  sprinkled ; 
and  we  have  God's  word  that  when  he  sees  the  blood,  he  will  pass 
over  us.    I  believe  he  will  keep  his  word." 

They  were  both  equally  safe ;  but  one  was  at  peace,  while  the 
other  was  not.  One  had  assurance,  the  other  had  doubts.  It  is 
the  blood  of  Jesus  that  makes  us  safe ;  it  is  the  word  of  God  that 
makes  us  sure. 


Terror  Changed  to  Gladness. 

395.  A  farmer,  going  out  one  misty  morning,  saw  a  gigantic 
figure  come  stalking  toward  him  down  the  hill-side.  But  when 
the  figure  came  nearer,  it  began  to  assume  the  proportions  of  a 
man,  and  at  last  he  saw  that  it  was  his  brother. 

When  the  just  God,  whom  we  would  suppose  full  of  wrath  and 
indignation  against  us  because  of  our  sins,  draws  near  in  the  per- 
son of  his  Son,  we  find  he  is  our  loving  brother. 


Going  on  Her  Way  Rejoicing. 

396.  Mr.  Spurgeon,  in  one  of  his  sermons,  says:  "I  saw, 
not  long  ago,  a  woman  who  said  to  me,  '  Is  it  indeed  true  that 


RKVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


165 


upon  trusting  in  Jesus  I  shall  be  saved  at  once  ? '  I  replied,  '  It 
is  even  so.'  'Why,'  she  said,  *My  father,  when  he  got  religion, 
was  nearly  six  years  a-getting  it ;  and  they  had  to  put  him  in  a 
lunatic  asylum  part  of  the  time.  I  thought  there  was  no  getting 
saved  without  going  through  a  very  dreadful  process.'  I  spoke 
to  her  of  the  person  and  work  of  Jesus,  and  repeated  to  her  the 
Divine  command,  'Believe  on  the  I^ord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou 
-shalt  be  saved.'  She  caught  the  idea,  and  obeyed  the  command. 
I  perceived  that  she  yielded  to  the  truth,  and  really  trusted,  for  I 
saw  a  change  come  over  her  face  which  betokened  the  rest  of  her 
soul.  'I  am  saved,'  said  she,  and  she  hastened  off,  saying,  'I 
will  get  away,  now,  for  your  time  must  not  be  wasted.  I  am 
saved^  and  you  can  tell  the  truth  to  some  one  else,  and  perhaps 
they  will  rejoice  as  I  do.' ' 


He  Didn't  Get  Home. 

397*  ' '  I  remember  when  we  were  in  New  York  City,  there 
was  a  man  at  our  inquiry  meeting  who  was  very  anxious  to  be- 
come a  Christian.  He  said,  '  I  will  go  home  and  pray,  and  I  will 
see  if  I  can't  get  the  blessing  at  home.'  He  started  out,  and  he 
had  about  three  miles  to  go,  and  while  he  was  walking  the 
thought  occurred  to  him,  '  What  is  the  use  of  waiting  until  I  get 
home  ?  Why,  I  will  pray  on  the  street.  The  lyord  will  hear  me 
just  as  well.'  And  so  he  said  he  began, — this  he  told  us  the  next 
night  at  the  meeting, —  '  God  be  merciful, '  and  he  said  the  moment 
he  got  to  that  word  'merciful,'  God  blessed  him  before  he  got  to 
*me.'    The  blessing  came  right  down  upon  him." 


3.  THE  CHRISTIAN  LIFE. 


(l.)  PRAISE. 


Remember  to  Give  Thanks. 

398.  A  few  days  since,  a  little  girl  of  my  acquaintance,  and 
the  mother,  became  very  much  frightened  for  the  safety  of  the 
husband  and  father,  who  was  crossing  the  Delaware  in  a  little 
boat,  when  it  was  quite  rough.  But  the  little  girl  thought  of  the 
proper  resource,  and  therefore  said,  "Mamma,  let  us  pray,"  which. 


166 


the;  gospei.  worker's  treasury. 


they  immediately  did.  Then  the  little  girl  said,  * '  You  pray,  and 
I  will  watch. ' ' 

The  mother  pra3xd  on.  After  a  while,  the  child  exclaimed, 
"There,  he  is  safe,"  for  she  saw  him  land.  Then  both  were 
happy,  and  the  mother  was  about  to  go  to  her  daily  business. 
"Now,"  said  the  little  girl,  "let  us  give  thanks."  Blessed  little 
child !    Her  mother  had  not  thought  of  that. 


Servants  oe  Christ. 

Before  the  time  when  Abraham  lyincoln  emancipated 
three  millions  of  colored  people  in  the  Southern  States  of  America, 
there  was  one  day  a  slave  auction  in  New  Orleans.  Among  the 
number  was  a  beautiful  mulatto  girl,  who  was  put  upon  the 
' '  block  "  to  be  sold  to  the  highest  bidder,  like  a  cow  or  a  horse. 
The  au(5lioneer,  dilating  on  the  graces  of  the  girl,  her  skill  in 
working,  and  the  beauty  of  her  form,  asked  for  a  bid.  The  first 
offer  was  five  hundred  dollars,  and  the  bids  quickly  rose  to  seven 
hundred  dollars.  Then  a  voice  called  from  the  outside  of  the 
crowd,  "Seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars."  The  slave  owners 
thereupon  advanced  their  bids  to  eight  hundred,  eight  hundred 
and  fifty,  and  nine  hundred  dollars.  The  bids  continued  to  rise, 
but  whenever  there  was  a  pause,  the  unseen  bidder  offered  fifty 
dollars  more,  and  at  last  the  girl  was  knocked  down  to  him  for 
one  thousand  four  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  He  then  came  for- 
ward, and  paying  the  money,  arranged  to  receive  delivery  of  the 
"  lot "  in  the  morning.  The  slave  girl  saw  that  her  purchaser  w^as 
a  Northerner,  one  of  the  hated  "Yankees,"  and  was  much  dis- 
gusted to  become  his  slave.  The  next  morning  her  new  owner 
called  at  the  house,  w^hen  the  poor  girl  said,  with  tears,  "Sir,  I 
am  ready  to  go  with  3'ou."  He  gently  replied,  "But  I  do  not 
want  you  to  go  with  me;  please  look  over  this  paper!"  She 
opened  the  paper,  and  found  that  it  was  the  gift  of  her  freedom. 
The  Northerner  said,  ' '  I  bought  you  that  you  might  be  free ! ' ' 
She  exclaimed:  "You  bought  me  that  I  might  be  free!  Am  I 
free?  Free!!  Can  I  do  as  I  like  with  m3'self?"  He  answered, 
"Yes,  you  are  free!"  Then  she  fell  down  and  kissed  his  feet, 
and  almost  choking  with  sobs  of  joy,  she  cried,  "Oh,  sir,  I  will 
go  with  you,  and  be  your  servant  forevermore ! ' ' 


A  Pauper's  Praise. 

400.  A  dying  pauper,  in  the  hospital  in  Glasgow,  took  a 
draught  of  water  from  the  hand  of  her  physician,  with  the  ejacu- 


RBVIVAI.  ANECDOTe:S. 


167 


iation,  "Thank  God  for  the  water!"  This  led  the  skeptic  phy- 
sician to  re-examine  his  grounds  of  confidence.  He  became  a 
Christian,  and  worked  for  the  souls  of  his  patients  as  well  as  for 
their  bodies,  finally  going  as  a  missionary  to  Madeira. 


''Show  me;  thk  Doctor." 

401.  A  man,  blind  from  his  birth,  a  man  of  much  intelle(5lual 
vigor,  and  with  many  engaging  social  qualities,  found  a  woman 
who,  appreciating  his  worth,  was  willing  to  cast  in  her  lot  with 
him  and  become  his  wife.  Several  bright,  beautiful  children  be- 
came theirs,  who  tenderly  and  equally  loved  both  their  parents. 

An  eminent  French  surgeon,  while  in  this  country,  called  upon 
them,  and,  examining  the  blind  man  with  much  interest  and  care, 
said  to  him:  — 

' '  Your  blindness  is  wholly  artificial ;  your  eyes  are  naturally 
good,  and  if  I  could  have  operated  upon  them  twenty  years  ago, 
I  think  I  could  have  given  you  sight.  It  is  barely  possible  that  I 
can  do  it  now,  though  it  will  cause  you  much  pain." 

"I  can  bear  that,"  was  the  reply,  "so  you  but  enable  me  to 
see. ' ' 

The  surgeon  operated  upon  him,  and  was  gradually  successful. 
First  there  were  faint  glimmerings  of  light ;  then  more  distin(5l 
vision.  The  blind  father  was  handed  a  rose;  he  had  smelled  one 
before,  but  had  never  seen  one.  Then  he  looked  upon  the  face  of 
his  wife,  who  had  been  so  true  and  faithful  to  him ;  and  then  his 
children  were  brought,  whom  he  had  so  often  fondled,  and  whose 
charming  prattle  had  so  frequently  fallen  upon  his  ears. 

He  then  exclaimed:  "Oh,  why  have  I  seen  all  of  these  before 
inquiring  for  the  man  by  whose  skill  I  have  been  enabled  to  be- 
hold them!  Show  me  the  do(5lor."  And  when  he  was  pointed 
out  to  him,  he  embraced  him,  with  tears  of  gratitude  and  joy. 

So,  when  we  reach  heaven,  and  with  unclouded  eyes  look  upon 
its  glories,  we  shall  not  be  content  with  a  view  of  these.  No;  we 
shall  say,  "Where  is  Christ — he  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  what 
heaven  is  ?  Show  me  him,  that  with  all  my  soul  I  may  adore  and 
praise  him  through  endless  ages." 


lyOOKiNG  TO  Jesus. 

402.  When  Cyrus  defeated  and  captured  Tigranes,  King  of 
Armenia,  the  unfortunate  monarch  asked  that  his  wife  might  be 
released  and  allowed  to  return  home. 


168 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


"  WTiat  would  3-0U  give  for  her  ransom  ?"  said  Cyrus. 

"J/y  life,'"  said  Tigranes,  "if  that  is  necessary  to  set  her  free." 

C^'rus  not  only  released  the  captured  queen,  but  Tigranes  him- 
self (on  his  oath  of  submission),  and  dismissed  them  with  pres- 
ents. On  their  way  home,  the  king  warmh'  praised  C3'rus'  virtues, 
and  then  spoke  of  the  majest}^  and  benignity  of  his  person,  and 
appealed  to  his  wife,  ' '  Did  3'ou  not  think  so  ?  " 

"Indeed,  I  cannot  say,  for  I  scarcely  looked  at  him,"  she  said. 

' '  AVhy ,  where  were  your  e3'es  ? ' ' 

' '  Upon  the  man  who  said  he  would  give  his  life  to  ransom  my 
liberty. ' ' 

The  devout  soul — like  that  grateful  wife — has  no  eyes  for  any 
but  Him  whose  life  was  its  ransom. 


(2.)  OBEDIENCE. 


A  Doer  of  the  AVord. 

403.  A  poor  woman  in  the  countn,-  once  went  to  hear  a  ser- 
mon, wherein,  among  other  practices,  the  use  of  dishonest  weights 
and  measures  was  exposed.  B3"  this  discourse  she  was  much 
affected.  The  next  da3-,  the  minister,  according  to  his  custom, 
went  among  his  hearers;  and  calling  upon  the  woman,  he  took 
occasion  to  ask  her  what  she  recollected  of  the  sermon.  The  poor 
woman  complained  of  her  bad  memorv',  and  said  that  she  had 
forgotten  almost  all  that  he  had  delivered.  "But  one  thing," 
said  she,  "  I  remembered ;  I  remembered  to  burn  my  bushel,'^  A 
doer  of  the  word  cannot  be  a  forgetful  hearer. 


"Without  Asking  Questions." 

404.  At  an  anniversary  meeting  of  the  London  Sundaj'- 
School  Union,  the  Rev.  S.  Kilpin  remarked  that  in  catechising 
some  children  on  the  text,  "Th3'will  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is 
in  heaven,"  the  following  were  the  questions  and  answers: 
' '  What  is  to  be  done  ?  "  "  The  will  of  God. "  "  ^\^lere  is  it  to  be 
done?"  "On  earth."  "How  is  it  to  be  done?"  "As  it  is  in 
heaven."  "How  do  3-0U  think  the  angels  do  the  will  of  God  in 
heaven,  as  the3'  are  our  pattern  ?  "  The  first  replied,  "The3^  do  it 
immediateU' " ;  the  second,  "The3^  do  it  adliveh'";  the  third, 
"The3"  do  it  unitedh'."    Here  a  pause  ensued,  and  no  other  child 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


1G9 


appeared  to  have  any  answer ;  but  after  a  moment,  a  little  girl 
rose  and  said,  "Why,  sir,  they  do  it  without  asking  questions." 


Pleasing  God. 

405.  Mr.  Whittle,  the  evangelist,  tells  of  entering  a  railway 
tram  at  night,  when  it  was  exceedingly  cold.  The  gate-keeper 
demanded  of  every  one  to  show  his  ticket  before  he  could  pass, 
which  compelled  the  passengers  to  unbutton  their  coats,  and 
otherwise  greatly  incommode  themselves.  _  Many  expressed  their 
impatience  in  hot  words  and  bitter  complaints. 

"You  are  a  very  unpopular  man  to-night,"  said  the  major, 
pleasantl}'. 

"I  only  care  to  be  popular  with  one  man,"  he  replied;  "that  is 
the  superintendent." 

Noble  words  for  the  Christian  soldier  to  adopt,  "That  he  may 
please  Him  who  hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier. ' ' 


The  Conductor's  Story. 

406.  "I  was  a  Christian  and  a  Sunday-school  teacher,  with 
a  bright  class  of  boys.  I  had  just  recently  been  promoted  from 
the  position  of  brakeman  to  that  of  conducftor,  after  a  long  service. 
One  day  I  received  orders  to  run  an  extra  Sunday  train  for  a  cir- 
cus. To  refuse  was  to  lose  my  place.  After  a  few  da3'S  of  bitter 
conflicft,  I  returned  to  the  office,  and  walked  up  to  the  manager  as 
he  sat,  and  said,  in  a  respe(5lful  tone,  *  I  have  been  detailed  to  run 
the  circus-train  Sunday  morning,  and  I  cannot  do  it  on  the  Sab- 
bath.' 

"Imagine  my  astonishment,  as  he  looked  me  full  in  the  face 
and  said:  '  You!  been  detailed  to  run  Simday  trains !  I  am  sur- 
prised! You  go  right  home,  and  don't  3^ou  worry  about  Sunday 
trains.' 

"I  have  never  been  detailed  for  Sunday  work  since.  But  the 
men  who  offered  to  do  work  for  extra  pay  on  the  Sabbath  have  lo?ig 
since  been  discharged. 


(3.)  HOLINESS. 


Seeing  the  Gospee. 

407.  "Have  3^ou  ever  heard  the  gospel  before.?"  asked  an 
Englishman,  at  Ning-Po,  of  a  respectable  Chinaman,  whom  he 


170 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


had  not  seen  in  his  mission-room  before.  "No,"  he  replied,  "but 
I  have  seen  it.  I  know  a  man  who  used  to  be  the  terror  of  his 
neighborhood.  If  3^ou  gave  him  a  hard  word,  he  would  shout  at 
you,  and  curse  you  for  two  days  and  nights  without  ceasing.  He 
was  as  dangerous  as  a  wild  beast,  and  a  bad  opium  smoker;  but 
when  the  religion  of  Jesus  took  hold  of  him,  he  became  wholly 
changed.  He  is  gentle,  moral,  not  soon  angry,  and  has  left  off 
opium.    Truly  the  teaching  is  good ! ' ' 


A  Light  that  Cannot  be  Hid. 

408.  A  prominent  New  England  merchant  was  converted 
during  one  of  Dr.  Pentecost's  meetings,  but  determined  to  keep 
it  a  secret.  He  had  been  a  very  passionate  and  profane  man,  and 
when  any  of  his  cargoes  of  fruit  came  in  in  bad  condition,  his 
profanity  was  frightful.  The  next  morning  after  he  had  decided 
to  give  himself  to  Christ,  he  went  down  to  his  receiving  store, 
where  his  men  were  engaged  in  opening  out  a  cargo  of  oranges 
which  were  in  an  unusually  bad  condition.  Instead  of  cursing, 
as  he  had  always  done  previously,  he  pleasantly  remarked  to  the 
men  to  sort  them  over  and  do  the  best  they  could  with  them. 
The  men  immediately  jumped  to  a  conclusion  as  to  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  one  of  them  told  Mr.  Pentecost  of  it  the  next  day. 
Dr.  Pentecost  mentioned  the  circumstance  in  his  address  that 
evening,  not  knowing  that  the  merchant  was  present.  At  the  close 
of  the  meeting,  he  arose  and  acknowledged  that  he  was  the  man 
to  whom  reference  had  been  made,  and  publicly  confessed  Christ. 


"My  Seams  wiIvL  Never  Rip  Again." 

409.  A  seamstress,  a  quiet,  steady  girl,  who  had  always  gone 
regularly  to  church,  was  converted,  and  to  all  outward  appear- 
ances her  life  was  just  as  before.  Someone  asked  her:  "Mary, 
what  does  being  converted  mean  ?  What  difference  does  it  make 
to  you?  Are  you  not  doing  just  the  same  as  you  did  before?" 
And  .she  answered,  "No,  indeed;  there's  many  a  time  when  I've 
been  pressed  that  I've  sent  home  seams  scarcely  fastened,  so  that 
they'd  be  sure  to  rip;  but,  please  God,  since  I've  been  converted, 
my  seams  will  never  rip  again." 


Is  OUR  Wheat  Good? 

410.  In  a  time  of  much  religious  excitement  and  consequent 
discussion,  an  honest  Dutch  farmer  on  the  Mohawk,  was  asked 


RBVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


171 


his  opinion  as  to  which  denomination  of  Christians  were  on  the 
right  way  to  heaven.  "Veil,  den,"  said  he,  "ven  we  ride  our 
wheat  to  Albany,  some  say  dis  road  is  de  best,  and  some  dat ;  but 
it  don't  make  much  difference  vich  road  we  take,  for  ven  we  get 
dare  dey  never  ask  us  vich  vay  we  come — and  it's  none  of  their 
business — if  our  wheat  is  good.''' 


A  Living  Episti^e. 

4II.  When  the  first  missionaries  at  Madagascar  had  converted 
some  of  the  islanders  there,  a  Christian  sea  captain  asked  a  former 
chief  w^hat  it  was  that  first  led  him  to  become  a  Christian. 

' '  Was  it  any  particular  sermon  you  heard,  or  book  you  read  ? ' ' 
asked  the  captam. 

"No,  my  friend,"  replied  the  chief,  "it  was  no  book  nor  ser- 
mon. One  man,  he  a  wicked  thief;  another  man,  he  drunk  all 
daylong;  big  chief,  he  beat  his  wife  and  children.  Now  thief, 
he  no  steal ;  drunken  Tom,  he  sober;  big  chief,  he  very  kind  to  his 
family.  Ever}^  heathen  man  gets  something  inside  him,  which 
make  him  difTerent;  so  I  become  a  Christian,  too,  to  know  how  it 
felt  to  have  something  strong  inside  of  me,  to  keep  me  from  be- 
ing bad." 

That  old  chief  had  the  right  idea  of  Christianity. 


"On  Different  Tracks." 

412.  An  eminent  Eastern  divine  was  riding,  some  years  ago, 
on  one  of  two  railways  which  ran  side  by  side  for  a  mile  or  two, 
and  then  diverged,  ending  at  points  far  distant  from  each  other. 
Sitting  with  him  was  a  clergyman  of  "liberal"  views,  who  had 
what  he  supposed  to  be  an  unanswerable  question  to  ask. 

"You  orthodox  have  among  you  regenerate  souls,  as  you  call 
them,  who  are  proud,  and  penurious,  and  uncomfortable  to  others, 
as  husbands,  fathers,  and  friends.  Then,  too,  you  have  unregen- 
erate  sinners  who  are  amiable  and  genial,  public  spirited,  and,  in 
short,  make  for  the  present,  at  least,  a  better  show  than  the  saints. 
Now,  I  want  to  know  the  real  difference  between  the  worst  Chris- 
tian and  the  best  sinner. ' ' 

Just  then,  his  friend,  looking  out  the  car  window,  saw  another 
train  moving  by  their  side,  and  said,  ' '  You  see  that  other  train  ? ' ' 

"Yes." 

' '  With  the  same  number  of  cars  as  ours  ? ' ' 
"Yes." 


172 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  treasury. 


*  *  And  the  two  engines  are  alike  ? ' ' 
««Yes." 

*'Not  nmch  difference  as  to  looks  between  them  ?" 
"No." 

"But,  my  dear  friend,  they  are  running  on  different  tracks P'' 


"Be  Thou  FaithpuIv  Unto  Death." 

413,  Gertrude  of  Swabia,  wife  of  Rudolf  von  der  Wart,  when 
her  husband  was  broken  upon  the  wheel,  by  the  criiel  order  of 
Frederick,  Duke  of  Austria,  remained  two  nights  and  two  days  b}' 
the  horrible  instrument  of  lingering  death,  in  spite  of  enemies 
who  abused  her,  and  even  tried  to  dra^  her  away,  sustaining  the 
sufferer's  spirit  by  her  brave  Christian  words,  and  sometimes 
climbing  the  wheel  to  moivSten  his  dying  lips,  and  cover  his  limbs 
from  the  stormy  wind.  His  last  words  were,  "Gertrude,  this  is 
fidelity  till  death." 


A  Heathen's  Idea  of  Christianity. 

414.  At  one  of  our  mission  stations  in  India,  one  of  the  na- 
tive preachers  became  engaged  in  a  warm  discussion  with  a  Brah- 
min, during  which  the  latter  used  strong  language,  and  spoke 
very  loudly.  A  friend,  standing  by,  said  that  such  talk  would 
offend  the  preacher.  "No,  no,"  the  Brahmin  repliefl,  "he  will 
not  get  angry,  whatever  you  say  to  him.  It  is  a  part  of  his  re- 
ligion never  to  get  angry  or  tell  a  lie. ' '  The  Christian  religion 
had  certainly  made  some  impression  upon  his  mind. 


Fruits  oe  the  Gospel. 

415.  A  young  man,  a  French  Canadian,  was  lately  converted 
by  the  hearing  of  the  gospel.  One  of  the  first  things  he  did  was 
to  return  to  the  village  from  which  he  had  recently  arrived,  and 
pay  there  the  debts  from  which  he  had  fled.  His  creditors  were 
amazed  to  see  him  again,  and  to  learn  the  purpose  of  his  return. 


Practicing  More  than  he  Preaches. 

416.  The  following  anecdote  illu.strates  how  thoroughly  the 
late  Dr.  Guthrie's  holy  life  and  efforts  to  raise  the  fallen  had  im- 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTES. 


173 


pressed  even  the  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort :  In  Glasgow,  a 
number  of  low  drunkards  were  making  remarks  not  at  all  com- 
plimentary to  ministers,  when  one  of  them  interposed  with,  "I'll 
tell  ye  a  gude  mon,  a  really  gude  mon." 

'*  Wha's  that  ? "  asked  three  voices  at  once. 

"  Weel,"  was  the  reply,  "that's  just  Tam  Guthrie." 

"Aye !  you've  said  it  noo,"  was  the  remark  of  another.  "I  be- 
lieve Dr.  Guthrie  to  be  as  gude  a  mon  as  ever  waggit  his  pow  in 
a  poopit.  He's  different  frae  the  ithers  a'thegither.  He  practices 
mair  than  he  preaches." 


"How  HB  lylVED." 

417,  A  gentleman  of  infidel  sentiments  was  deprived  by  death 
of  a  brother,  whom  he  tenderly  loved.  The  brother  was  an 
earnest  Christian.  His  joyful  and  believing  death  was  cited  by  a 
clergyman,  while  condoling  with  the  gentleman  in  his  afflicflion, 
and  used  as  a  text  to  discourse  to  him  on  the  merits  and  saving 
power  of  Christ. 

The  infidel  grew  impatient.  "  I  do  not  need  any  such  proofs," 
he  said.  "I  have  little  faith  in  death-bed  evidences.  It's  more 
to  me  how  he  lived. ' ' 


"Too  Much  God,  and  No  Fi^our." 

418.  The  importance  of  benevolence  and  charity  along  with 
piety  is  well  understood.    It  ought  to  be  better  adled  upon. 

Old  Chief  Pocotello,  now  at  the  Fort  Hall  Agency,  in  answer  to 
an  inquiry  relative  to  the  true  Christian  charadler  of  a  former  In- 
dian agent  at  that  place,  gave,  in  very  terse  language,  as  accurate 
a  description  of  a  hypocrite  as  was  ever  given  to  the  public  : 

"Ugh!    Too  much  God,  and  no  flour." 


.  A  Legend  oe  St.  Arnui^ph. 

419.  Arnulph  was  the  son  of  a  physician.  He  was  preparing 
himself  for  the  calling  of  his  father.  One  day  he  came  to  his 
father  and  said,  ' '  Father,  let  me  go  into  the  cloister,  and  serve 
God."  But  his  father  said:  "Thou  doest  well  to  wish  to  serve 
God.  As  a  physician  thou  mayest  serve  him,  and  serve  thy  fel- 
low-men, also."  "To  serve  God  is  better  than  men,"  answered 
Arnulph.  "Pray  this  night  for  God's  guidance,  O  son!  To- 
morrow I  will  do  as  thou  wilt." 


174 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


So  Amulpli  went  and  prayed  God  to  receive  him  as  his  servant. 
And  his  eyes  were  opened,  and  lo !  an  angel,  whose  hands  were 
full  of  roses.  "Behold,"  said  the  angel,  "the  offerings  of  those 
who  serve  God. ' ' 

"And  can  I  offer  him  an3^thing  ?  "  asked  Arnulph.  "  Lo !  here 
my  left  hand  is  thy  offering  also,"  said  the  angel.  Arnulph 
asked  again:  "Why  are  the  roses  in  th}"  left  hand  scentless? 
Those  in  th}^  right  hand  are  full  of  fragrance."  But  the  angel 
answered:  "In  my  left  hand  are  their  offerings  who  serve  the 
Heavenly  Father,  but-.care  not  to  ser\^e  his  children.  In  my  right 
hand  are  their  offerings  who  ser\^e  God  and  serve  man  also. ' ' 

This  is  the  legend  of  St.  Arnulph,  surnamed  Holy  Prophet. 


Heroic  Self-Denial. 

420.  In  a  battle  against  the  Spaniards,  fought  at  Wamsfeld, 
in  the  sixteenth  century,  on  behalf  of  the  Dutch,  Sir  Philip  Syd- 
ney was  fatally  wounded.  As  he  lay  on  the  field  in  agony,  and 
parched  with  thirst,  his  devoted  followers  brought  him  a  vessel 
of  water,  procured  at  a  distance,  with  great  dif&culty,  during  the 
heat  of  battle.  But  seeing  a  soldier  lying  near,  mangled  like 
himself  and  apparently  expiring.  Sir  Philip  refused  the  water, 
sa^-ing,  * '  Give  it  to  that  poor  man ;  his  sufferings  are  greater  than 
mine ! ' ' 


Two  Words. 

421,  Two  words  ruled  the  life  of  Wm.  E.  Dodge.  The  one 
was  conscience,  the  other  was  Christ.  When,  at  a  council  of  dis- 
tingiiished  militar\^  officers,  all  reversed  their  wine  glasses  at  din- 
ner, it  was  a  tribute  to  the  conscience  of  the  noble  Christian  who 
was  their  guest.  When  a  great  corporation  proposed  to  drive 
traf&c  on  the  Lord's  day,  he  fearlessly  said  to  his  fellow-diredlors, 
"If  you  break  God's  law  for  a  dividend,  I  go  out." 


"I  Have  Seen  Jesus." 

422.  The  Interior  thus  testifies  to  the  conversion  of  a  poor, 
half-witted  fellow,  who  was  also  a  profane  brawnier  and  a  common 
drunkard.  During  a  revival,  he  began  to  inquire  the  way  of  sal- 
vation— and  he  foiuid  it.  But  from  that  hour  to  this,  he  has 
never  faltered  in  his  course,  and  though  many  years  have  passed. 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


175 


lias  never  yielded  so  much,  as  an  inch,  to  his  vicious  habits.  His 
constancy  and  consistency  aie  even  as  much  superior  to  that  of 
other  disciples,  as  his  simplicity  is  greater  than  theirs.  He  is 
always  in  his  place.  He  has  worn  out  two  or  three  Bibles,  for  he 
had  before  learned  to  read  a  little,  and  now  put  himself  to  the 
task  in  earnest.  He  gets  a  few  dollars  of  earnings  which  he  does 
not  want,  and  goes  to  his  pastor,  requesting  him  to  apply  it  to 
some  good  use  which  he  does  not  know  how  to  sele(fl;.  When 
asked  by  his  friends,  for  that  is  the  general  wonder,  "  How  is  it 
that  your  old  habits  of  profanity  and  drunkenness  have  never 
once  got  advantage  of  you.?"  his  uniform  reply  is,  W/ijy,  I  have 
seen  Jesus.'' 


'  "CivANE  Inside." 

423.  At  one  of  the  ragged  schools  in  Ireland,  a  clergj^man 
asked  the  question,  "What  is  holiness?"  After  some  pause,  a 
poor  Irish  convert,  in  dirty,  tattered  rags,  jumped  up,  and  said, 
"  Plaise  your  Riverence,  it's  to  be  clane  inside." 


"PoEiSHED  Clean  Through." 

424.  A  simple-hearted  old  farmer  visited  the  new  capital  at 
Alb  any.  After  wandering  through  the  halls  and  corridors,  and 
seeing  a  great  many  beautiful  things,  he  came  to  a  large  column 
of  Scotch  granite,  highly  polished.  He  examined  it  closely, 
knocked  it  with  his  knuckle,  and  then  inquired,  ' '  What  is  that  ? ' ' 
He  was  told  that  it  was  Scotch  granite;  to  w^hich  he  replied: 
"You  don't  say !  Is  that  Scotch  granite  ? — and  is  it  polished  like 
that  clean  through  .^" 

That  would  be  a  pungent  question  to  ask  of  certain  ones  who 
are  intelle(5lually  orthodox  and  ceremonially  pious.  To  be  a  child 
of  God  "clean  through"  is  something  more  than  living  right- 
eously according  to  programme,  or  religiously  by  rote.  A  string 
of  opinions,  said  John  Wesley,  no  more  constitutes  faith,  than  a 
string  of  beads  constitutes  holiness. 


A  Little  Quaker  Boy's  Prayer. 

_  425.  A  little  Quaker  boy,  about  six  years  old,  after  sitting, 
like  the  rest  of  the  congregation,  in  silence,  all  being  afraid  to 
Speak  first,  as  he  thought,  got  up  in  his  seat  and  folding  his  arms 


176 


THE  GOSPElv  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


over  his  breast,  murmured,  in  a  clear,  sweet  voice,  "  I  do  wisk 
the  Lord  would  make  us  all  gooder,  and  gooder,  and  gooder,  till 
there  is  no  bad  left." 


"Treat  Him  Cooi^ey." 

426.  Said  one  to  another,  "How  is  it,  brother,  that  the 
tempter  seems  to  trouble  you  so  little  ? ' ' 

"Because  I  treat  him  so  coolly,"  was  the  answer. 

It  is  alwaj^s  the  better  way,  under  all  circumstances,  to  treat 
his  Satanic  majesty  coolly.  If  Bve  had  treated  him  with  proper 
coldness,  and  not  turned  aside  to  listen  to  his  subtle  reasonings, 
she  never  would  have  been  turned  out  of  paradise. 


"Resisting  Unto  Beood,  Striving  Against  Sin." 

427.  At  the  battle  of  Fourche  Dam,  a  few  miles  below  the 
city  of  Little  Rock,  on  the  loth  of  September,  1863,  a  Missouri 
brigade  crossed  the  creek  and  captured  an  Illinois  battery  by  a 
sudden  bayonet  charge. 

The  captain  of  the  battery,  a  young  man  from  Chicago,  stood 
by  one  of  the  guns  with  a  revolver  in  each  hand,  firing  rapidly. 
He  was  completely  surrounded,  but  refused  to  surrender.  The 
Confederates,  in  admiration  of  his  bravery,  stopped  firing  and 
cheered  him.  He  was  repeatedly  told  to  surrender,  and  as  often 
refused.    He  continued  to  fire,  and  had  wounded  several  men. 

"This  thing  is  gettin'  tiresome,  cap'n,"  yelled  a  lank  Mis- 
sourian,  "an'  if  you  don't  behave  yourself  an'  quit  your  sky- 
larkin',  3"ou'll  git  hurt." 

The  brave  fellow,  with,  a  disdainful  gesture,  exclaimed:  — 

* '  I  told  the  people  ot  Chicago  that  I  would  never  surrender  this 
battery,  and  I'll  keep  my  word,"  and  he  leveled  the  pistol  at  the 
Missourian.  But  the  lank  man  was  too  quick  for  him,  and  throw- 
ing up  his  pistol,  he  fired.  Captain  Reed  fell  across  his  gun,  shot 
through  the  heart. 

"Brave  man,"  said  the  boys,  as  they  laid  him  on  the  ground, 
preparatory  to  removing  the  gun.  "Brave  man;  it's  a  pity  we 
had  to  kill  him." 

The  gun,  with  its  death  mark  of  life's  blood,  was  drawn  away 
by  the  Confederates,  and  used  in  a  dozen  different  battles,  but  no 
one  ever  washed  off  the  blood.  Once,  when  an  of&cer  asked  one 
of  the  men  why  he  did  not  wavSh  his  gun,  the  soldier  related  the 
circumstance  of  Reed's  death.  "Let  the  iDlood  remain,"  said  the 
officer;  "it  is  a  mark  of  respecft  to  the  memory  of  a  brave  man." 


RBVIVAI.  ANECDOTe:S. 


177 


A  S:eCOND  SAI.VATION. 

428.  An  Irisliman  who  had  been  converted  under  Mr.  Moody's 
work  in  Boston,  remained  steadfast  for.  quite  a  year.  He  was 
then  led  away,  became  intoxicated,  and  was  found  in  the  gutter 
somewhat  the  worse  for  a  fight.  He  immediately  returned  to  the 
meeting  with  all  the  marks  of  his  recent  debauch  still  visible  on 
his  face,  and  made  humble  confession.  When  he  found  himself 
in  the  gutter,  he  said  to  himself,  "Git  up  from  this,  and  go  off  to 
the  lyord  as  quick  as  ever  yez  can,  and  get  your  sins  forgiven, 
and  your  soul  washed  from  the  horrid  dhrink."  He  continued: 
saw  in  a  moment  how  I  was  jist  livin'  in  a  very  land  of  timp- 
tation.  I'm  here  to  tell  yez  about  me  second  salvation.  First, 
the  good  Lord  saved  me  from  me  sins ;  and  now  he  has  saved  me 
from  the  old  sinful  associations." 


How  Character  Preaches. 

429*  On  a  bright  summer  morning,  by  the  side  of  a  country- 
road  running  along  the  Hudson,  two  men  stood  talking  together. 
One  was  a  judge  of  high  social  standing  and  legal  distincftion, 
the  other  was  a  stone-mason ;  and  the  conversation  was  about  the 
building  of  a  new  wall  near  the  place  where  they  were  standing. 
Just  coming  into  sight,  as  he  trudged  along  the  path  on  his  way 
to  church,  was  a  j)lain  Scotch  farmer,  well  known  as  a  God-fear- 
ing, Sabbath-keeping,  honest,  hard-working  man.  His  chief  am- 
bition seemed  to  be  to  rear  a  large  family  of  children  in  the  fear 
of  God  and  honorable  in  the  sight  of  men,  which  his  example 
was  well  fitted  to  do.  In  the  midst  of  an  animated  explanation 
of  what  he  wanted  in  a  new  wall,  the  judge  caught  sight  of  the 
farmer.    Stopping  suddenly,  he  said: — 

' '  There  comes  David  Stuart.  It  will  never  do  to  let  him  see  us 
talking  business  on  Sabbath  morning;  we  will  just  step  behind 
this  bit  of  wall  until  he  passes." 

The  judge  and  the  mason  crouched  down  behind  the  wall  until 
the  plodding  footsteps  of  the  farmer  echoed  faintly  in  the  distance; 
and  the  good  man  passed  from  sight,  all  unconscious  of  the  silent 
reproof  his  appearance  had  caused,  w^hile  the  judge,  with  feel- 
ings, one  would  think,  belittling  to  his  manliness,  crept  from  his 
hiding  place  to  continue  his  conscious  and  confessed  desecration 
of  the  Lord's  day. 

The  next  morning,  the  incident  was  related  to  the  farmer  by 
the  mason,  who  was  himself  a  Scotchman,  though  unhappily  not 
so  conscientious  as  his  friend.    He  told  the  story  with  some  glee, 
adding :  — 
12 


178 


the;  gospel  worker's  treasury. 


Wha  wad  a'  thoclit,  maun,  that  ye  had  sich  a  pooer  in  ye  as 
to  mak'  the  judge  hide  behint  the  wall  for  fear  o'  ye  ?" 


"Little  Piety." 

430.  Probably  nowhere  in  the  world  can  hypocrisy  find  less 
toleration  than  in  the  army,  or  for  less  time  maintain  its  mask. 
A  Southern  colonel  gives  an  account  of  "Little  Ned,"  a  young 
private  in  his  regiment,  and  the  wonderful  power  of  his  consistent 
religious  character  among  his  comrades,  of  which  the  following 
are  some  specimen  glimpses: — 

* '  One  day  one  of  our  men  was  swearing  furiously,  when  Ned 
came  and  put  his  hand  on  the  man's  arm,  and  said,  'Please  don't 
speak  so.'  He  was  looking  right  into  the  savage  man's  eyes.  I 
looked  to  see  him  knock  Ned  down,  for  he  was  the  worst  tem- 
pered man  I  ever  knew.  But  he  looked  at  little  Ned,  and  said, 
'Beg  your  pardon,  Little  Piety;  didn't  mean  to  swar.' 

"So  I  asked  an  orderly  why  they  called  Ned  'Little  Piety,'  and 
he  said,  'IVs  'cause  he's  so  pious,  sir.  He  prays  and  sings,  kind 
o'  low  like,  171  his  tent;  and  says  grace  at  mess,  all  to  himself;  and 
don't  never  do  nothin''  wrong.' 

*  *  One  day  some  of  the  men  asked  if  they  might  have  a  hospital 
tent  that  was  not  in  use,  for  a  Sunday-school. 

"  'Why,'  said  I,  'is  the  chaplain  going  to  open  a  Sunday-school 
in  the  camp  ? ' 

' ' '  No, '  said  they ;  '  it's  Little  Piety. ' 

"  *  Will  the  men  go  ? '  I  asked. 

"'Yes,  indeed,  sir,'  they  said.  'Little  Piety  is  up  to  it,  you 
see.    He' s  got  the  real  pious,  that  shows  out  good  every  day. ' 

"And  when  finally  little  Ned  fell  in  battle,  the  whole  command 
turned  out  to  follow  the  dead  body  of  that  blue-eyed  comrade  to 
the  grave ;  and  strong  men  cried  that  day,  men  whose  eyes  had 
not  quailed  under  a  heavy  battery  fire." 


The  Great  Influence  of  a  Consistent  Christian. 

431.  A  gentleman  in  England  said  that  he  owed  his  conver- 
sion mainly  to  the  marked  consistency  of  a  merchant  who  lived 
not  far  from  him.  His  neighbor  was  a  Christian,  and  professed 
to  carry  on  his  large  business  on  stri(5lly  Christian  principles. 
This  surprised  him ;  but  not  being  sure  of  its  reality,  he  deter- 


RISVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


179 


mined  to  watch,  him  for  a  year,  and  if  at  the  end  of  that  time  he 
found  that  he  was  really  what  he  professed  to  be,  he  would  be- 
come a  Christian  also.  All  the  year  he  watched  without  finding 
any  flaw  or  inconsistency  in  his  dealing.  The  result  was  a  thor- 
ough convicftion  that  the  merchant  was  a  true  man,  and  that  re- 
ligion was  a  reality.  When  the  merchant  heard  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  he  was  filled  with  gratitude,  but  at  the  same  time 
trembled  as  he  thought  w^hat  might  have  happened  had  he  stum- 
bled through  any  unwatchfulness,  when  so  observed,  and  for  such 
an  end. 


"Under  my  Aunt's  Practicing." 

432.  Faith  that  is  lived  is  what  gives  efficacy  to  faith  pro- 
fessed. 

Rev.  Dr.  Deems  is  accustomed  to  relate  some  feeling  incident 
before  the  first  hymn  in  church,  on  Sunday  morning.  Recently 
he  told  this:  "A  Christian  man  one  day  said  to  a  friend,  'Un- 
der whose  preaching  were  j^ou  converted?'  'Nobody's,'  was  the 
answer;  'it  was  under  my  aunt's  praclicing.'  "  He  then  made  an 
earnest  appeal  to  aunts  to  examine  their  chara(5ters  and  lives,  to 
see  if  these  contained  converting  power. 


"His  Life  is  Right." 

433*  An  infidel  was  thought  to  be  dying,  and  his  wife,  being 
concerned  for  him,  asked  leave  to  send  for  some  one  to  come  in 
and  pray.  After  a  moment's  thought,  the  man  said:  "You  may 
send  for  old  Mr.  Read.  I  know  him.  His  life  is  right."  The 
good  old  man  came  and  praj^ed  with  him.  The  infidel  recovered, 
and  became  a  pious  and  useful  man. 


The  Force  of  Example. 

434*  Very  good  people  sometimes  unconsciously  exert  a  bad 
influence,  by  allowing  bad  men  to  get  behind  them  and  use  them 
as  excuses  for  their  wickedness.  We  give  an  illustration  of  this 
truth: 

There  was  no  better  man  in  all  his  neighborhood  than  Mr. 
Joseph  Harper,  the  father  of  the  well-known  publishers,  Messrs. 
Harper  Brothers,  of  New  York.  But  old  Joe  Harper  was  a  great 
tobacco-chewer.    His  love  for  "the  weed"  was  known  far  and 


180 


THS  GOSPE;iy  worker's  TREASURY. 


near,  and  nobody  supposed  lie  would  ever  give  it  up,  as  he  was 
well  advanced  in  years.  One  of  his  neighbors  was  a  notorious 
drunkard.  A  friend  took  this  neighbor  to  task  one  day  for  hivS 
habits,  and  entreated  him  to  quit  drinking.  "  Give  up  liquor  ?  " 
vSaid  the  man;  "why,  I  could  no  more  stop  drinking  than  old  Joe 
Harper  could  give  up  tobacco."  This  conversation  was  reported 
to  Mr.  Harper.  "Does  that  old  drunkard  say  so?"  said  Mr. 
Harper.  "He  shall  not  get  behind  me  with  his  rum.  I  will  show 
him  that  old  Joe  Harper  can  give  up  tobacco."  He  thereupon 
threw  the  tobacco  from  his  mouth,  and  he  never  touched  it  again, 
during  his  life. 


"So  F01.KS  won't  Stumbi^e  over  Me." 

435*  Mr.  Moody  tells  of  a  blind  beggar  sitting  by  the  side- 
walk, on  a  dark  night,  with  a  bright  lantern  by  his  side;  whereat 
a  passer-by  was  so  puzzled  that  he  had  to  turn  back  with,  "What 
in  the  world  do  you  keep  a  lantern  burning  for.-*  You  can't  see  ? ' ' 
"So  folks  won't  stumble  over  me,"  was  the  reply.  We  should 
keep  our  lights  burning  for  others'  sakes,  as  well  as  for  the  good 
of  being  "in  the  light"  ourselves. 


(4.)  CONFESSING  CHRIST. 


"I  I^ovE  Jesus — Do  You?" 

436.  "A  little  more  than  six  years  ago,  a  friend,  who  is  deeply 
interested  in  work  for  Christ  among  our  sailors,  told  me  that,  at 
the  close  of  a  prayer-meeting  of  which  he  had  beon  the  leader,  a 
young  seaman,  who  had  only  a  few  nights  before  been  converted, 
came  up  to  him,  and  laying  a  blank  card  before  him,  requested 
him  to  write  a  few  words  upon  it,  *  because,'  he  said,  'you  will 
do  it  more  plainly  than  lean.'  'What  must  I  write?'  said  my 
friend.  'Write  these  words,  sir:  "I  love  Jesus — do  you?"' 
After  he  had  written  them,  my  friend  said,  '  Now  you  must  tell 
me  what  you  are  going  to  do  with  the  card.'  He  replied:  '  I  am 
going  to  sea  to-morrow,  and  I  am  afraid  if  I  do  not  take  a  stand 
at  once  I  may  begin  to  be  ashamed  of  my  religion,  and  let  my- 
self be  laughed  out  of  it  altogether.  Now,  as  soon  as  I  go  on 
board,  I  shall  walk  straight  to  my  bunk  and  nail  up  this  card  up- 
on it,  that  every  one  may  know  that  I  am  a  Christian,  and  may 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


181 


five  up  all  hope  of  making-  me  either  ashamed  or  afraid  of  ad- 
ering  to  the  Lord.'  " 


CarIvYi^e's  Rebuke. 

437*  "  One  evening,"  says  William  Howie  Wylie,  "  at  a  small 
literary  gathering  at  which  Thomas  Carlyle  was  present,  a  lady, 
famous  for  her  '  muslin  theology, '  was  bewailing  the  wickedness 
of  the  Jews  in  not  receiving  our  Savior,  and  ended  her  diatribe 
by  expressing  regret  that  he  had  not  appeared  in  our  own  time, 

"'How  delighted,'  said  she,  *we  should  all  be  to  throw  our 
doors  open  to  him,  and  listen  to  his  Divine  precepts.  Don't  you 
think  so,  Mr.  Carlyle?' 

"Thus  appealed  to,  he  replied:  'No,  madam,  I  don't.  I  think 
that,  had  he  come  very  fashionably  dressed,  with  plenty  of  money, 
and  preaching  dodlrines  palatable  to  the  higher  orders,  I  might 
have  had  the  honor  of  receiving  from  you  a  card  of  invitation,  on 
ths  back  of  which  would  be  written,  "To  meet  our  Savior" ;  but 
if  hG  had  come  uttering  his  sublime  precepts,  and  denouncing 
the  Pharisees,  and  associating  with  the  publicans  and  lower  or- 
ders, as  he  did,  you  would  have  treated  him  much  as  the  Jews 
did,  and  have  cried  out,  "Take  him  to  Newgate  and  hang  him."  '  " 


Ashamed  of  Christ. 

438.  A  fire  burst  out  from  a  house  during  the  absence  of  the 
mother,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  building  was  enveloped  in 
smoke  and  flames.  The  mother  returned,  and  rushed  through 
the  crowd  toward  the  blazing  house ;  but  the  firemen  caught  her, 
and  held  her  back.  She  cried,  "Oh,  my  child!"  and,  breaking 
loose,  ran  forward.  The  stairs  and  floors  were  on  fire,  and  the 
house  was  filled  with  stifling  smoke  and  heat ;  but  the  mother, 
led  by  the  instin(5t  of  love,  found  her  child,  wrapped  up  in  the 
bed-clothes,  and  carried  her  outo  The  mother  then  fell  helpless 
to  the  ground,  horribly  burnt.  For  many  months  she  lay  quiver- 
ing between  life  and  death ;  but,  ultimately,  she  recovered,  with 
distorted  face  and  deformed  body.  Years  passed  away,  and  the 
saved  child  became  a  woman.  Being  at  a  social  gathering  one 
day,  a  friend  said  to  her,  "Dear  me,  what  a  shocking  sight! 
Who  can  that  woman  be,  with  that  deformed  body,  and  that  hor- 
rible face?"  The  girl  was  asha?ned  to  say,  ^'It's  my  another;  she 
saved  my  life  at  the  risk  of  her  ow?i."  She  was  ashamed  to  own 
her  brave  and  loving  mother.  Dear  friends,  have  not  some  of  us 
been  similarly  ashamed  of  our  dear  Savior,  Jesus  Christ  ? 


I 


182  THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 

The  IvxVST  Chance  to  Confess  Christ. 

439*  A  suggestive  incident  was  narrated  by  our  j^oung  men 
who  visit  the  poor-house.  At  one  of  their  Sunday  visits,  an  aged 
German  woman  rose,  and  in  her  broken  English  said  that  she  had 
thought  for  some  time  that  she  would  confess  Jesus  for  the  first 
time,  and  now  she  felt  that  it  might  be  her  last  opportunity.  In 
conversation  afterward  she  gave  evidence  of  accepting  the  Savior,, 
and  before  the  next  meeting  she  died. 


A  Brave  Confession. 

440.  A  gentleman  in  Boston,  belonging  to  a  wealthy  and 
aristocratic  family,  was  converted  at  one  of  Mr.  Moody's  meet- 
ings. He  proposed  keeping  it  a  secret,  as  the  circle  in  which  he 
moved  was  inclined  to  sneer  at  religion.  Shortly  afterward  he 
was  a  guest  at  a  large  dinner  party,  where  Mr.  Moody's  work  was 
ridiculed,  and  finally  even  Christ  and  his  cross  sneered  at.  Un- 
able to  stand  it  any  longer,  he  arose,  and  addressing  his  host, 
said:  "  I  do  not  wish  to  seem  rude ;  but  I  cannot  be  true  to  m3\self, 
or  to  my  God,  and  let  this  conversation  go  on  any  longer.  I  beg 
to  say  that  Mr.  Moody  is  my  friend,  and  that  through  his  work 
I  have  been  led  to  Christ,  whom  I  believe  to  be  the  Son  of  God, 
and  in  the  merits  of  whose  blood  I  am  trUvSting  for  forgiveness 
and  eternal  life.  Not  wishing  to  disturb  the  freedom  of  your 
party,  I  beg  leave  of  my  kind  host  to  retire  from  this  table." 


A  Hindoo  Woman's  Preference. 

441.  A  missionary,  preaching  at  Nallamaram  (India),  noticed 
a  woman  wearing  a  dress  rather  too  dirty  to  look  becoming  in  a 
place  of  worship.  He  asked  her  about  it,  and  she  told  him  she 
was  very  poor,  and  that  was  the  only  dress  she  had  in  the  world. 

"Have  you  always  been  so  poor ? "  he  inquired. 

"No,  sir;  once  I  had  money  and  jewels,  but  the  Maravers 
robbed  me  of  everything — only  they  said  if  I  would  give  up  my 
new  religion  they  would  give  them  all  back. ' ' 

"And  why  did  you  not  do  so,  and  get  your  property  again  ? 

"Because  I  would  rather  be  a  poor  Christiari  than  a  rich  heathen.''^ 


Much  I^ike  Testifying  in  Pubeic. 

442.  A  visitor  to  the  country  one  time  was  washing  himself 
and  combing  his  hair,  and  a  countryman,  who  was  watching  him 


RKVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


183 


with,  deep  interest,  said,  "Mister,  do  you  do  that  every  morn- 
ing ?  "  * '  Yes, ' '  was  the  reply.  ' '  Well, ' '  he  said,  ' '  I  have  combed 
my  hair  once  in  three  months,  and  it  bothers  me  so,  I  will  never 
undertake  it  again." 


(5.)    LOVE  TO  CHRIST. 


A  Brokex  Crucifix. 

443.  An  ignorant  woman,  in  New  York  City,  a  German 
Catholic,  accidentally  broke  an  earthen  crucifix,  which  she  had 
worn  for  years,  hung  from  a  string  around  her  neck. 

"Oh,"  she  cried,  "what  shall  I  do  now.?  My  dear  Christ  is 
broken  all  to  pieces ! ' ' 

In  her  distress,  she  went  to  a  neighbor  in  the  next  tenement- 
room.  The  neighbor,  who  was  also  a  German  woman,  happened 
to  be  a  Protestant,  and  she  said:  "Don't  grieve;  I'll  tell  you  how 
you  can  make  up  your  loss.  Do  as  I  do ;  I  keep  the  Savior  z>2  my 
hearty 

The  poor  woman  needed  instru(5lion,  but  she  was  interested, 
and  listened,  and  learned  at  last  to  possess  Christ  by  faith ;  and 
her  hungering  heart  was  satisfied. 


Abiding  in  Christ. 

444.  A  minister  once  used  the  following  beautiful  illustra- 
tion :  — 

"When  I  was  in  England,  a  lady  told  me  a  sweet  stor}',  illus- 
trative of  what  it  is  to  have  Christ  between  us  and  everything 
else.  She  said  she  was  wakened  up  by  a  very  strange  noise  of 
pecking,  or  something  of  the  kind,  and  when  she  got  up  she  saw 
a  butterfly  flying  backward  and  forward  inside  the  window  pane 
in  great  fright,  and  outside  a  sparrow  pecking  and  trying  to  get 
in.  The  butterfly  did  not  see  the  glass,  and  expe(5led  every 
minute  to  be  caught,  and  the  sparrow  did  not  see  the  glass,  and 
expe(5led  every  minute  to  catch  the  butterfly ;  yet  all  the  while 
that  butterfly  was  as  safe  as  if  it  had  been  three  miles  away,  be- 
cause of  the  glass  between  it  and  the  sparrow. 

"So  it  is  with  Christians  who  are  abiding  with  Christ,  His 
presence  is  between  them  and  every  danger.  I  do  not  believe 
that  Satan  understands  about  this  mighty  and  invisible  power 


184  THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 

that  protecfts  us,  or  else  lie  would  not  waste  his  efforts  in  trying 
to  get  us." 


The  Remembered  Hymx. 

445.  A  few  years  ago,  a  company  of  Indians  were  captured 
on  the  Western  frontier.  Among  them  were  a  number  of  stolen 
children.  They  had  been  with  the  savages  for  years.  Word  was 
sent  throughout  the  region,  inviting  all  who  had  lost  children 
to  come  and  see  if  among  the  captives  they  could  recognize 
their  own.  A  long  way  off  was  a  woman  who  had  been  robbed 
of  her  darlings,  a  boy  and  a  girl.  With  mingled  hope  and  fear 
she  came;  with  fast-throbbing  heart  she  approached  the  group. 
They  were  strangers  to  her.  She  came  nearer,  and  with  eyes 
filled  with  mother-love  and  earnestness,  peered  into  their  faces, 
one  after  another;  but  there  was  nothing  in  any  that  she  could 
claim.  Nor  was  there  anything  in  her  to  light  up  their  cold  faces. 
With  the  dull  pain  of  despair  at  her  heart,  she  was  turning  away, 
when  she  paused,  choked  back  the  tears,  and,  in  soft  tones,  began 
to  sing  the  touching  hymn  which  she  had  long  been  wont  to  sing 
to  her  little  ones.  The  first  stanza  was  not  completed  before  a 
boy  and  a  girl  left  the  group,  and  ran  up  to  her,  exclaiming, 
"Mamma!  mamma!"  and  she  folded  her  lost  ones  to  her  bosom. 

The  children  of  the  covenant  know  the  voice  of  their  Redeemer 
— the  sweet,  familiar  evangel,  "Come  unto  Me."  It  is  the  voice 
that  in  the  Great  Restitution  will  summon  all  His  own  from  the 
four  corners  of  the  earth. 


(6.)  JOY  IN  CHRIST. 


A  Wrong  Conclusion. 

44.6.  An  American  gentleman  said  to  a  friend,  '  *  I  wish  you 
would  come  down  to  my  garden  and  taste  my  apples."  He  asked 
him  about  a  dozen  times,  but  the  friend  never  did  come,  and  at 
last  the  fruit-grower  said,  "I  suppose  you  think  my  apples  are 
good  for  nothing;  so  you  won't  come  and  try  them."  "Well,  to 
tell  the  truth,"  said  the  friend,  "  I  have  tasted  them.  As  I  went 
along  the  road,  I  picked  up  one  that  fell  over  the  wall,  and  I  never 
tasted  anything  so  sour  in  all  m^^  life ;  and  I  do  not  particularly 
wish  to  have  any  more  of  your  fruit."    "  Oh,"  said  the  owner  of 


REVIVAL  ane:cdotes. 


185 


tlie  garden,  "I  thouglit  it  must  be  so.  Why,  don't  you  know 
those  apples  around  the  outside  are  for  the  special  benefit  of  the 
boys.  I  went  fifty  miles  to  selecft  the  sourest  sorts  to  plant  all 
around  the  orchard,  so  that  the  boys  might  give  them  up  as  not 
worth  stealing ;  but  if  you  will  come  inside  you  will  find  that  we 
grow  a  very  different  quality  there,  sweet  as  honey." 

Now,  you  will  find  that  on  the  outskirts  of  religion  there  are  a 
number  of  "Thou  shalt  nots,"  and  "Thou  shalts,"  and  convic- 
tions, and  alarms.  If  you  can  pass  by  the  exterior  bitters,  and 
give  yourselves  right  up  to  Christ,  and  live  for  him,  your  power 
shall  be  like  the  waves  of  the  sea ;  and  you  shall  find  that  the 
fruits  of  ' '  this  apple-tree  among  the  trees  of  the  wood ' '  are  the 
most  delicious  that  can  be  enjoyed  this  side  of  our  eternal  home. 


*'No  Happy  Oi.d  Mb:n." 

447.  * '  I  met  him  one  day  on  his  way  to  the  place  where  prayer 
was  wont  to  be  made.  He  had  just  passed  the  mile-stone  of  life 
labeled,  '  Seventy  years.'  His  back  was  bent,  his  limbs  trembled 
beside  his  staff;  his  clothes  were  old,  his  voice  was  husky,  his 
hair  was  white,  his  eyes  were  dim,  and  his  face  was  furrowed. 
Withal,  he  seemed  still  fond  of  life,  and  full  of  gladness, — not 
at  all  put  out  with  his  lot.  He  hummed  the  lines  of  a  familiar 
hymn,  as  his  legs  and  cane  carried  him  along. 

"  'Aged  friend,'  said  I,  'why  should  an  old  man  be  merry?' 

**  'All  are  not,'  said  he. 

"  'Well,  why  then  should  you  be  merry  ?' 

*'  'Because  I  belong  to  the  lyord.' 

"  '  Are  none  other  happy  at  your  time  of  life  ? ' 

"'No,  not  one,  my  friendly  questioner,'  said  he;  and  as  he 
said  more,  his  form  straightened  into  the  stature  of  his  younger 
days,  and  something  of  inspiration  set  a  beautiful  glow  across  his 
countenance.  '  lyisten,  please,  to  the  truth,  from  one  who  knows, 
then  wing  it  round  the  world,  and  no  man  of  threescore  years  and 
ten  shall  be  found  to  gainsay  my  words, — The;  dejvii*  has  no 

HAPPY  OI.D  MEN  ! '  " 


"In  A  Hurry  to  be  a  Christian." 

448.  An  inebriate,  while  seeking  the  Divine  remedy  for  his 
disease,  said,  with  burning  earnestness:  "I  am  in  a  hurry  to  be  a 
Christian.    I  must  be  a  Christian  to  be  safe. ' ' 


186 


THE  GOSPEIv  AVORKER'S  TREASURY. 


(7.)    LOVE  AND  FORGIVENESS. 


Controversy. 

449*  Mr.  Munhall  tells  the  following  fable :  — 
"Two  men  arranged  to  make  a  journey  on  foot  together;  but 
by  some  hindering  cause,  A  was  detained,  and  B  started  off.  The 
next  day  A  started,  and  before  sunset  overtook  B.  B  cried  out, 
'  Why,  I  thought  you  were  not  going  to  start  until  this  morning.' 
A  replied,  'Well,  I  didn't;  but  what  have  you  been  doing  since 
yesterday  morning  that  3^ou  haven't  gone  farther  ? '  '  Well,'  said 
B,  '  the  dogs  came  out  and  barked  at  me,  and  I  had  to  throw  stones 
at  them,  and  frighten  them  away.  Didn't  they  bark  at  you?' 
'  Certainly,  but  I  just  let  them  bark  away,  and  walked  on,  and 
have  journeyed  as  far  in  one  day  as  you  in  two.'  " 


"I  Shai.Iv  IvOve  You  StieIv." 

450.  A  man  in  Dartmouth,  Massachusetts,  who  had  been 
very  intemperate,  profane,  and  reckless,  gave  evidence  of  con- 
version, and  soon  after  made  application  for  baptism^  The  church 
was  cautious,  and  advised  him  to  wait  a  month.  He  did  not  com- 
plain. The  next  month  he  came,  but  some  of  the  brethren  were 
still  reludlant  and  fearful.  They  were  satisfied  with  his  Christian 
life  thus  far,  but  doubted  if  he  had  quite  escaped  the  thralldom  of 
his  old  bad  appetites.  Another  month  the  candidate  waited,, 
without  complaint,  continuing  faithful  to  every  religious  duty, 
and  increasing  every  day  the  confidence  of  his  Christian  friends  in 
him.  When  he  applied  the  third  time,  there  was  but  one,  a  deacon 
of  the  church,  who  objecfted  to  receiving  him.  But  the  vote  must 
be  unanimous,  and  sorrowfully  he  was  put  off  for  another  month. 
The  convert  was  deeply  grieved,  but  showed  no  resentment. 

"I  love  the  church,"  he  said,  as  he  rose  to  go,  "and  I  should 
be  glad  to  live  and  die  in  its  fellowship ;  but,  brethren,  if  you 
never  receive  me,  I  vShall  love  3'ou  still." 

"That  is  too  much  for  me,"  said  the  deacon,  when  the  man  had 
gone  out ;  * '  call  him  back. ' ' 

The  man  was  baptized,  and  proved  a  steadfast  Christian. 


Reconcieiation. 

451.  "About  seven  years  ago,  in  a  large  prayer-meeting,  I 
was  urging  every  one  present  to  put  away  every  hindrance  to  an 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTES. 


187 


immediate  personal  transadlion  with  God,  in  which  the  soul  might 
find  instant  forgiveness.  I  saw  a  man  leave  his  pew  in  a  hurried, 
excited  state,  and  go  into  the  vestry.  A  messenger  called  two  or 
three  others  to  go  into  the  same  place.  The  man  who  first  went, 
shortly  after  came  back  to  his  seat,  and  the  others  returned  to  the 
pews  where  they  had  been  sitting.  At  the  close  of  the  service,  I 
inquired  into  the  reasons  for  the  commotion,  and  I  was  told  there 
had  been  a  quarrel;  that  the  first  man  who  went  was  seeking 
peace  with  God,  and  could  not  find  it  until  he  had  been  reconciled 
to  his  offended  brethren  —  and  he  had  gone  to  seek  reconciliation  ; 
that  he  had  sent  for  them  to  come  into  the  vestry,  asked  forgive- 
ness and  given  it,  and  that  they  were  as  glad  as  he  to  be  friends 
again.  Immediately  on  returning  to  his  seat,  the  God  of  mercy 
met  him,  and  He  blessed  him  there. ' ' 


Revenge. 

452.  During  the  American  Revolutionary  War  there  was  liv- 
ing, in  Pennsylvania,  Peter  Miller,  pastor  of  a  little  Baptist 
church.  Near  the  church  lived  a  man  who  secured  an  unenvia- 
ble notoriety  by  his  abuse  of  Miller  and  the  Baptists.  He  was 
also  guilty  of  treason,  and  was  for  this  sentenced  to  death.  No 
sooner  was  the  sentence  pronounced  than  Peter  Miller  set  out  on 
foot  to  visit  General  Washington,  at  Philadelphia,  to  intercede 
for  the  man's  life.  He  was  told  that  his  prayer  for  his  friend 
could  not  be  granted.  "My  friend!"  exclaimed  Miller;  "  I  have 
not  a  worse  enemy  living  than  that  man."  ''What!"  rejoined 
Washington,  "you  have  walked  sixty  miles  to  save  the  life  of 
your  enemy  ?  That,  in  my  judgment,  puts  the  matter  in  a  dif- 
ferent light.  I  will  grant  you  his  pardon."  The  pardon  was 
made  out,  and  Miller  at  once  proceeded  on  foot  to  a  place  fifteen 
miles  distant,  where  the  execution  was  to  take  place  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  same  day.  He  arrived  just  as  the  man  was  being 
carried  to  the  scaffold,  who,  seeing  Miller  in  the  crowd,  remarked  : 
"There  is  old  Peter  Miller.  He  has  walked  all  the  way  from 
Bphrata  to  have  his  revenge  gratified  to-day  by  seeing  me  fiung." 
These  words  were  scarcely  spoken  before  Miller  gave  him  his 
pardon,  and  his  life  was  spared. 


"Coals  oe  Fire." 

453 •  ^  slave,  who  had  by  the  force  of  his  sterling  worth  risen 
high  in  the  confidence  of  his  master,  saw,  one  day,  trembling  in 
the  slave  market,  a  negro,  whose  gray  head  and  bent  form  showed 


188 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


liim  to  be  in  the  last  weakness  of  old  age.  He  implored  his  mas- 
ter to  purchase  him.  He  expressed  his  surprise,  but  gave  his 
-consent.  The  old  man  was  bought,  and  conveyed  to  the  estate. 
When  there,  he  who  had  pleaded  for  him  took  him  to  his  own 
cabin;  placed  him  in  his  own  bed;  fed  him  at  his  own  board; 
gave  him  water  from  his  own  cup;  when  he  shivered,  carried  him 
into  the  sunshine ;  when  he  drooped  in  the  heat,  bore  him  softly 
to  the  shade.  "What  is  the  meaning  of  all  that  ?  "  asked  a  wit- 
nCvSS.  "Is  he  3^our  father?"  "No."  "Is  he  your  brother?" 
"No."  "Is  he,  then,  your  friend?"  "No;  he  is  my  enemy. 
Years  ago  he  stole  me  from  my  native  village,  and  sold  me  for  a 
slave ;  and  the  good  Lord  has  said,  '  If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed 
him ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink :  for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap 
coals  of  fire  on  his  head.'  " 


A  Christian  Giri^'s  Revenge. 

454.    Two  men,  living  in  the  southern  part  of  Africa,  had  a  I 

c^uarrel,  and  became  bitter  enemies  to  each  other.    After  a  while,  j 

one  of  them  found  a  little  girl,  belonging  to  his  enemy,  in  the  i 

woods  at  some  distance  from  her  father's  house.    He  seized  her  | 

and  cut  off  both  her  hands ;  and  as  he  sent  her  home  screaming  1 

with  her  bleeding  wrists,  he  said  to  her,  "I  have  had  my  re-  | 

venge. ' '    Years  passed  away.    The  little  girl  had  grown  up  to  be  I 

almost  a  young  woman.    One  day  there  came  to  her  father's  door  \ 

a  poor,  worn-out,  gray -headed  old  man,  who  asked  for  something  j 

to  eat.    She  knew  him  at  once  as  the  cruel  man  who  had  cut  off  j 

her  hands.    She  went  into  the  hut,  and  ordered  the  servant  to  i 

take  him  bread  and  milk,  as  much  as  he  could  eat,  and  sat  down  ^ 

and  watched  him  eat  it.    When  he  had  finished,  she  dropped  the  j 

covering  that  hid  her  handless  wrists  from  view,  and  holding  ^ 

them  up  before  him,  she  exclaimed,  "I  have  had  niy  revenge!"  j 

repeating  the  very  sentence  he  had  uttered  when  he  so  cruelly  3 
maimed  her.    The  man  was  overwhelmed  with  surprise  and  hu- 
miliation.    The  secret  of  it  was,  that  in  the  meantime  the  girl 

had  become  a  Christian,  and  had  learned  the  meaning  of  the  \ 

verse,  "If  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  ,'? 

drink:  for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  ^his  'i 
head."    How  beautiful  the  condudl  of  this  injured  Christian  girl 
appears  in  contrast  with  that  of  her  heathen  enemy ! 


Forgiving  an  Enemy. 

455.  The  son  of  a  murdered  Maori  lately  a(fled  in  a  manner 
which  showed  how  the  most  powerful  passions  of  human  nature 


i 


REvivAi.  anecdote:s. 


189 


are  conquered  and  tamed  by  God's  grace.  A  missionary  was  re- 
turning to  England,  and  held  a  service  before  lie  left,  at  whicli 
the  lyord's  Supper  was  administered.  Suddenly,  a  Maori,  who 
had  come  and  knelt  before  the  table,  rose  and  walked  back  to  his 
seat  without  taking  the  bread  and  wine.  While  the  missionary 
was  wondering  why  he  had  done  this,  the  man  came  back  and 
knelt,  and  received  the  tokens  of  the  love  of  Christ.  Why  had 
he  adled  in  this  way  ?  When  he  knelt  down,  he  found  himself 
side  by  side  with  a  man  who  had  murdered  his  father  and  drunk 
his  blood.  "I  had  never  seen  him  since,"  he  said,  "till  I  found 
myself  kneeling  by  his  side."  When  that  murderous  deed  was 
done,  they  were  both  heathen;  now  they  were  Christians.  A 
sudden  impulse  of  disgust  and  revenge  came  upon  the  man.  That 
was  why  he  rose  and  went  away.  But  a  voice  seemed  to  say  to 
him,  ''By  this  shall  all  ineii  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples,  if  ye 
have  love  one  to  another. "  He  thought  a  moment.  He  thought 
of  the  Crucified  One ;  of  his  blood ;  of  his  oxy,  ' '  Father,  forgive 
them."  He  arose  and  went  back,  and  knelt  beside  the  man  who 
had  slain  his  father.  The  savage  New  Zealander  was  a  follower 
of  Jesus. 


(8.)    INCONSISTENT  LIFE. 


"Pay  Tike  a  Sinnkr." 

456.  The  story  is  familiar  to  many,  of  the  North  Carolina 
inn-keeper's  plain  dealing  with  a  clerical  guest,  in  the  days  when 
traveling  ministers  in  that  State  mostly  lodged  and  fared  free. 
With  the  simple  hospitality  usual  then  (at  least  in  primitive 
taverns,  when  customers  were  few),  the  landlord  waited  personally 
on  his  "reverend"  guest,  attending  to  all  his  wants,  and  even 
staying  to  take  the  candle  after  he  had  seen  him  comfortably  in 
bed.  In  the  morning,  when,  after  breakfast,  the  minister  was 
about  to  go  away,  leaving  only  his  thanks,  the  landlord  surprised 
him  by  presenting  his  bill. 

' '  Why,  I  thought  it  was  not  customary  to  charge  ministers  for 
lodging  and  refreshments,"  said  the  guest. 

' '  How  do  I  know  that  you  are  a  minister  ? ' '  returned  the  inn- 
keeper. ' '  You  ate  supper  and  breakfast  without  asking  a  bless- 
ing, you  went  to  bed  without  a  prayer,  and  you've  talked  with 
us  here  without  giving  a  word  or  sign  of  religion.  You  came  to 
my  house  like  a  sinner,  and  you  must  pay  like  a  sinner.''^ 


190 


THB  GOSPEII.  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


**Are  You  a  Communicant?" 

457,  "It  is  always  a  terrible  condemnation  of  a  chtircli  mem- 
ber, ' '  says  Dr.  Cuyler,  ' '  that  no  one  should  suspe(5l  him  of  being 
one.  We  have  heard  of  a  young  lady  who  engaged  for  man}- 
months  in  a  round  of  frivolities,  utterly  forgetful  of  her  covenant 
with  Christ.  One  Sabbath  morning,  on  being  asked  by  a  gay 
companion  to  accompany  him  to  a  certain  place,  she  declined,  on 
the  ground  that  it  was  the  communion  Sabbath  in  her  own  church. 
'  Ax^you  a  communicant  ? '  was  the  cutting  reply.  The  arrow  went 
to  her  heart.  She  felt  that  she  had  denied  the  Lord  who  died  for 
her.  That  keen  rebuke  brought  her  to  repentance,  and  a  re-con- 
version." 


A  Good  Answer. 

458.  At  a  church  prayer-meeting  not  far  from  Boston,  a  man 
whose  credit  was  not  the  best,  and  who  was  somewhat  noted  for 
his  failure  to  meet  his  obligations,  arose  to  speak.  The  subjedt 
of  the  evening  was,  "What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?"  Com- 
mencing in  measured  tones,  he  quoted  the  passage,  "What  shall 
I  do  to  be  saved?"  He  paused,  and  again  more  emphatically 
asked  the  question,  "What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  "  Again,  with 
increased  solemnity  and  impressiveness  of  manner,  he  repeated 
the  momentous  inquiry,  when  a  voice  from  the  assembly,  in  clear 
and  distindt  tones,  answered,  "Go  and  pay  John  Williams  for 
that  yoke  of  oxen  you  bought  of  him ! " 


A  Sorry  Love. 

459.  Frederick  Morel  had  so  strong  an  attachment  to  study, 
that  when  he  was  informed  of  his  wife's  being  on  the  point  of 
death,  he  would  not  lay  down  his  pen  till  he  had  finished  what 
he  was  upon;  and  when  she  was  dead,  as  she  was  before  they 
could  prevail  on  him  to  stir,  he  was  only  heard  to  reply,  coldly, 
"I  am  very  sorry;  she  was  a  good  woman."  Such  is  often  the 
doubtful  love  of  Christians  for  their  Lord. 


"Better  be  Sure  than  Sorry." 

460.  These  words  were  the  answer  of  a  garden-worker,  when 
his  employer  expressed  a  doubt  about  the  necessity  of  covering 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


191 


certain  vegetation  from  threatened  frost:  "Better  be  sure  than 
sorry. ' ' 

When  we  see  a  professing  Christian  hesitating  about  engaging 
in  some  employment  or  amusement  of  doubtful  characfter  in  its 
effedt  on  spiritual  life  and  influence,  we  think  of  the  wise  poor 
man's  caution,  "  Better  be  sure  than  sorry y  And  when  we  hear 
the  skeptic  cavil,  or  the  scorner  laugh,  over  that  question  which 
puts  all  others  in  shadow,  ' '  Where  shall  I  spend  eternity  ? "  to 
the  same  warning  we  seem  to  listen,  "Better  be  sure  than  sorry," 
and  that  forever. 


Specious  Self-Sacrifice. 

461.  A  man  who  wished  to  curtail  expenses,  asked  his  famil}^ 
what  they  would  sacrifice.  One  said  coffee,  another  tea  and 
sugar,  etc.  Finally,  the  youngest  boy  said,  after  careful  con- 
sideration: "I'll  give  up  salt  mackerel.  We  don't  have  it  often, 
and  I  don't  like  it  any  way." 


"It's  no'  BiIvIn'." 

462.  The  late  Dr.  William  Arnot,  of  Edinburgh,  used  to  tell 
of  his  being  at  a  railway  station,  where  he  grew  weary  of  waiting 
for  the  train  to  move.  He  inquired  if  the  trouble  was  want  of 
water.  "Plenty  of  water,"  was  the  quick  reply,  "but  it's  no' 
hilin'." 

We  have  no  lack  of  religious  machinery  in  church  and  Sabbath- 
schools  and  benevolent  societies.  The  engines  are  on  the  track, 
and  the  trainmen  are  in  their  places.  If  there  is  little  or  no  prog- 
ress, may  it  not  be  that  the  water  is  "no'  bilin'  " 


Ground-Hog  Christians. 

463.  Says  Dr.  Munhall :  ' '  Some  Christians  are  like  ground- 
hogs— they  only  come  out  of  their  holes  in  the  warm  weather  of 
revivals.    How  can  we  close  up  their  holes  and  keep  them  out  ? " 


"IvOrd!  IvORd!" 

464.  Some  years  ago,  a  drunkard  applied  to  a  Connedlicut 
deacon,  who  kept  a  grocery,  for  a  pint  of  whisky.    "  Can't  sell  it 


192 


the:  gospel  worker's  treasury. 


to  3'ou,"  said  tlie  deacon.  "Wli3^?"  "Because  the  law  won't 
allow  nie  to  sell  less  than  a  quart. ' '  The  half-intoxicated  cus- 
tomer replied  promptly  and  truh%  ''Deacon,  if  you  ain't  any  bet- 
ter than  the  law  makes  you,  you'll  go  to  hell,  sure." 


An  Inconsistent  Professor. 

465.  Many  years  ago,  there  was  in  the  North  of  Scotland  a 
man  who  long  and  resolutely  forsook  all  religious  ordinances. 
When  expostulated  with  by  a  minister,  he  made  this  remarkable 
statement  regarding  a  noted  professor,  whom  he  once  greatly 
honored  for  his  piety:  "That  man's  proved  h^-pocrisy,  after  such 
a  profession,  was  the  beginning  of  my  ruin,  and  ever  after  I  could 
neither  bear  religion  nor  religious  men." 


PROF1T1.ESS  Preaching. 

466.  A  Scotch  minister  thus  discoursed  on  the  carelessness 
of  his  flock:  "Brethren,  when  you  leave  the  church,  just  look 
down  at  the  duke's  swans.  They  are  very  bonny  swans,  an' 
they'll  be  sooming  about,  an'  aye  dooking  doon  their  heads,  an' 
laving  theirsels  wi'  the  clear  water  till  they're  a  drookit.  Then 
you'll  see  them  sooming  to  the  shore,  an'  they'll  gie  their  wings 
a  bit  flap  an'  they're  dry  again.  Now,  my  friends,  you  come  here 
ever>^  Sabbath,  an'  I  lav  you  a'  ower  wi'  the  gospel  till  ye'er  fairly 
drookit  wi'  it.  But  you  just  gang  awa'  hame,  an'  sit  doon  by  your 
fireside,  gie  your  wings  a  bit  flap,  an'  ye're  as  dry  as  ever  again." 


A  Wrong  Righteousness. 

467,  Remember  the  good  old  rabbi,  who  w^as  awakened  by 
one  of  his  twelve  sons,  saying,  "Behold !  my  eleven  brothers  lie 
vsleeping,  and  I  am  the  only  one  who  wakens  to  praise  and  pray. ' ' 
"Son,"  said  the  wise  father,  "you  had  better  be  asleep,  too,  than 
wake  to  censure  j^our  brothers."  No  fault  can  be  as  bad  as  the 
feeling  w^hich  is  quick  to  see  and  speak  of  other  people's  faults. 

"What  Others  Don't  Do." 

468.  Recording  some  recent  improvements  in  a  certain  parish, 
a  religious  weekly  says:  "Two  faithful  brethren  are  just  driving 


re:vivai.  anecdotes. 


193 


the  last  nail,  after  many  days  of  labor,  on  a  dilapidating  meeting- 
house. Many  other  as  able,  but  more  indifferent  men,  were  mem- 
bers of  the  same  church.  The  question  was  asked,  "Brethren, 
do  you  not  get  discouraged  losing  so  much  time,  with  but  little 
help.?"  "O,  no,"  replies  Bro.  F. ;  "  I  do  not  do  any  too  much 
for  the  lyord."  "No,"  responded  Bro.  E. ;  "it  is  not  what  I  do 
for  the  lyord  that  hurts  me ;  it  is  what  others  don't  do." 


Inconsistknciks  of  Christians. 

469.  If  you  want  to  have  wherewith  to  answer  those  who 
are  always  bringing  up  these,  tell  them  about  a  certain  black- 
smith. An  old  gentleman,  a  deacon,  one  day  went  into  the  shop, 
and  the  blacksmith  soon  began  about  what  some  Christians  had 
done,  and  seemed  to  have  a  good  time  over  it.  The  old  deacon 
stood  a  few  minutes  and  li.stened,  and  then  quietly  asked  him  if 
he  had  read  the  story  in  the  Bible  about  the  rich  man  and  Lazarus  ? 
"Yes,  many  a  time ;  and  what  of  it?"  "Well,  do  you  remember 
about  the  dogs — how  they  came  and  licked  the  sores  of  Lazarus  ? ' ' 
"Yes,  and  what  of  that?"  "Well,"  said  the  deacon,  "do  you 
know  you  just  remind  me  of  those  dogs,  content  merely  to  lick 
the  Christians'  sores."  The  blacksmith  suddenly  grew  pensive, 
and  has  not  had  much  to  say  about  failing  Christians  since. 


"Dkath,  or  Deep  Water." 

470.  A  vessel  was  once  approaching  lyiverpool.  Night  was 
drawing  near,  the  sky  was  cloudy,  and  there  were  tokens  of  a 
gathering  storm.  The  captain  did  not  seem  to  understand  his 
business,  and  managed  to  get  his  vessel  away  down  on  the  fiats, 
where  it  was  in  imminent  danger  of  being  wrecked.  A  pilot 
started  out  to  board  the  ship.  He  would  have  been  glad  to  have 
avoided  the  job;  but  it  was  his  turn,  and  he  must  go  where  duty 
called.  The  pilot  boat  came  alongside,  and  the  pilot  jumped  into 
the  chains,  sprang  on  deck,  and  said  to  the  captain:  "What  have 
you  brought  your  ship  down  here  for  ?  Call  all  hands  aft. ' '  They 
came,  and  he  said,  "Now,  boys,  it's  death,  or  deep  water!" 

The  men  saw  at  once  that  there  was  work  to  be  done,  and  a 
pilot  on  board  who  knew  his  business.  They  sprang  to  their 
places  with  a  will,  and  by  putting  forth  their  best  exertions,  they 
saved  the  ship. 

Are  there  not  too  many  Christians  who  are  out  of  the  channel, 
and  drifting  onto  the  shoals  of  worldliness,  and  pride,  and  indif- 

13 


194 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


ference,  who  need  to  hear  the  faithful  pilot's  voice  crj'ing  out, 
"Now,  bo^-s,  it  is  death  or  deep  water"  ? 


Self-Examination. 

471,  The  machinery  in  a  large  faSiOTy  was  working  badly, 
and  the  superintendent  had  searched  in  vain  to  find  out  the  diffi- 
culty. Finallj^  he  decided  to  shut  down,  and  he  told  the  hands 
that  they  need  not  come  back  to  work  again  until  he  whistled  for 
them,  but  that  their  wages  should  go  on  all  the  same.  Then, 
alone,  with  the  engines  still,  and  the  doors  locked,  he  explored 
and  overhauled  all  the  machinery,  from  garret  to  basement.  He 
found  a  defeat  where  he  least  expecfted  it ;  where  he  might  not 
have  discovered  it  until  it  had  proved  fatal.  One  of  the  massive 
foundation  stones  had  settled,  and  thrown  everything  out  of 
plumb,  and  of  course  slightly  out  of  gear.  This  defe(5l  was 
promptly  remedied,  and  then  all  worked  well  again.  Those  were 
costly  hours  to  the  owners  of  the  factory,  and  yet  they  were  profit- 
able. By  being  alone  with  the  machinery,  the  superintendent 
saved  it  from  rack  and  rtiin. 

Our  hearts  are  like  that  fadlory.  It  is  not  easy  to  discover 
w^hat  is  the  matter,  amid  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  life,  with  the 
steam  up,  and  our  fellow-men  around  us.  We  must  go  alone; 
enter  our  closets  and  shut  the  door. 


"I  Don't  Want  to  be  Rankled  Up." 

472*  "Kxcellent  sermon  this  morning,"  said  Deacon  Good 
will  to  his  neighbor,  as  they  lingered  in  the  vestibule  to  shake 
hands  with  the  brethren. 

"Well,  purty  good,  purty  good.  Ain't  quite  up  to  old  Parson 
Slocuni.  He  used  to  give  it  to  'em  straight.  He  preached  agin 
wickedness  in  the  land." 

"To  be  sure,  but  this  man  preaches  right  to  us,  personally." 

"That's  jest  the  trouble.  I  go  to  church  to  hear  other  folks 
pitched  into.    I  don't  want  to  be  rankled  up  myself" 

Just  then  the  minister  passed  along,  and  with  a  dubious  shake 
of  the  head  he  cut  short  his  remarks. 


"You  AND  Me." 

473,  "Once,"  says  a  gentleman,  "when  the  faithful  man 
whose  ministry  I  attended  was  preaching  on  Diotrephes  (the 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


195 


church  member  who  wanted  the  first  place),  and  was  portraying 
and  reproving  the  sin  of  self-preference,  I  became  certain  that 
there  was  a  Diotrephes  somewhere  in  the  congregation,  and  be- 
came quite  exercised  about  it.  Finally,  I  whispered  to  a  good 
elder  who  sat  next :  — 

*' '  Mr.  Lt  ,  whom  does  he  mean  ? ' 

'* '  Vou  and  me'  promptly  replied  the  elder. 

"Since  then  I  have  never  asked  whom  my  minister  meant,  but 
have  heard  for  myself. ' ' 


"John,  Are  You  Dead?" 

474.  A  pious  woman,  under  discouragement  and  doubt,  thus 
complained  to  a  minister:  "I  fear  my  heart  is  destitute  of  grace. 
I  am  dead,  twice  dead,  and  plucked  up  by  the  roots." 

The  minister  replied:  "The  other  day  I  heard  an  outcry,  *John 
is  in  the  well!  John  is  in  the  well!' — a  little  boy,  six  years  old. 
I  left  my  study,  ran  into  the  yard,  and  heard  my  wife  exclaim- 
ing, 'John  is  dead!  John  is  dead! '  I  approached  the  well  and  in- 
quired, 'John,  are  you  dead?'  John  replied,  'Yes,  father,  I  am 
■dead. '    /  was  very  glad  to  hear  hi?n  say  he  was  dead. ' ' 


"The  Danger  oe  Animal  Excitement." 

475*  Not  far  from  the  scene  of  a  revival,  one  cold  day,  stood 
two  men  in  conversation.  They  belonged  to  different  churches, 
and  the  following  was  the  substance  of  their  discourse :  — 

"What  is  the  state  of  religion  in  your  church  ?" 

"Very  cold,  indeed,  sir;  it  is  as  far  below  the  freezing-point  as 
is  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere. ' ' 

"And  what  is  your  minister  preaching  about  ? " 

"He  is  laboring  to  show  the  danger  of  animal  excitement  in 
religion," 

The  conversation  closed  with  the  exclamation:  "The  danger 
of  animal  excitement!  Why  surely  the  man's  sermons  would  be 
better  adapted  to  the  state  of  his  congregation  if  he  were  to  preach 
on  the  danger  of  being  spiritually  frost-bitten ! ' ' 


He  Got  the  Smoke  in  his  Byes. 

476.  Mr.  Dawson  was  one  day  accosted  by  an  individual  who 
«aid  he  had  been  present  at  a  certain  meeting ;  that  he  liked  the 


19(5  THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 

preaching  very  well,  but  was  much  dissatisfied  with  the  prayer- 
meeting  ;  adding  that  he  usually  lost  all  the  good  that  he  had  re- 
ceived during  the  sermon  by  remaining  in  these  noisy  meetings. 
Mr.  Dawson  replied,  that  he  should  have  united  w^ith  the  people 
of  God  in  the  prayer-meeting,  if  he  desired  to  profit  by  it.  "O," 
said  the  gentleman,  "I  went  into  the  gallery,  where  I  leaned  over 
the  front,  and  saw  the  whole.  But  I  could  get  no  good ;  I  lost, 
indeed,  all  the  benefit  I  had  received  during  the  sermon."  "It  is 
easy  to  account  for  that,"  rejoined  Mr.  l3awson.  "How  so?" 
inquired  the  other.  "  You  mounted  to  the  top  of  the  house,  and, 
on  looking  down  your  neighbor's  chimney  to  see  what  kind  of  a 
fire  he  kept,  you  got  your  eyes  full  of  smoke.  Had  you  entered 
by  the  door,  and  gone  into  the  room  and  mingled  with  the  family 
around  the  household  hearth,  you  would  have  enjoyed  the  benefit 
of  the  fire  as  well  they.  Sir,  you  have  got  the  smoke  in  your 
eyes ! " 


Mockery  Short-Lived. 

477.  An  engine-driver  who  had  gained,  even  among  his  un- 
godly associates,  an  unenviable  notoriety  for  his  profanity,  was 
recently  ridiculing  a  young  man  employed  on  the  same  railway, 
who,  a  few  days  previously,  had  been  converted  to  Christ.  The 
young  Christian  bore  the  persecution  silently  for  some  time,  but 
at  length  said,  quietly,  but  firmly,  to  his  derider,  "If  you  were 
to  laugh  7ne  into  hell,  you  woiild  not  laugh  77ie  out  again,  neither 
will  'you  ridicule  me  when  we  both  stand  before  the  judgment 
bar  of  God. ' ' 


(9.)  BACKSLIDING. 


He  Was  Too  Sure. 

478.  A  story  is  told  of  a  pillar  which  marked  the  line  between 
two  States.  A  criminal  was  pursued  by  a  sheriff,  who,  though 
in  full  chase,  could  not  overtake  the  man  before  he  reached  the 
pillar,  beyond  which,  of  course,  he  had  no  jurisdi(5lion.  The 
criminal,  knowing  this  fa(5l,  turned  round  and  defied  the  sheriff. 
The  latter,  knowing  that  he  had  now  no  authority  to  seize  him, 
appeared  quietly  to  submit  to  the  circumstances ;  but  just  as  he 
appeared  to  be  returning  to  the  town,  stretching  out  his  hand,  he 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


197 


exclaimed:  "Well,  let  us  part  good  friends,  at  least.  Here's  my 
liand."  The  criminal,  thrown  off  his  guard,  took  the  proffered 
hand,  when  the  sheriff,  with  one  desperate  effort,  pulled  him 
across  the  line,  and  clapping  his  other  hand  upon  his  shoulder, 
shouted,  "You  are  my  prisoner."  Many  a  man  who  has  run 
well,  has  forfeited  the  race,  or  lost  the  battle,  through  thinking 
the  struggle  was  over. 


"De  Go-Back  Corner." 

479.  Said  a  converted  colored  man :  "I  have  got  safe  past  de 
go-back  corner.  I'm  goin'  all  de  journey  home.  An'  if  you  don't 
see  me  at  de  first  of  dem  twelve  gates  up  dere,  jes'  look  on  to  de 
next  one,  for  I'm  bound  to  be  dere."  Alas,  for  thousands  in  our 
congregations !  they  never  get  by  the  ' '  go-back  corner. ' ' 


"Too  Near  the  Place  Where  I  Got  In." 

480.  A  little  girl  fell  out  of  bed  during  the  night.  After  her 
mother  had  picked  her  up  and  pacified  her,  she  asked  the  little 
girl  how  she  had  happened  to  fall  out.  The  child  replied,  "I 
went  to  sleep  too  near  the  place  where  I  got  in."  That  is  the 
trouble  with  a  good  many  backsliders. 


On  the  Back  Track. 

481.  There  is  a  lesson  in  a  recent  railroad  accident  near  Lei- 
•cester,  England.  It  was  on  a  very  dark  night.  The  engine-driver 
had  stopped  his  train  in  a  deep  cutting,  thinking  there  was  some- 
thing the  matter  with  the  locomotive.  On  starting  it  again,  he, 
b)y  mistake,  ran  the  train  backward.  Neither  he  nor  any  of  his 
train  hands  knew  that  the  train  was  backing  instead  of  going 
ahead,  until  the  train  was  smashed  up  by  running  into  another 
train,  which  was  headed  in  the  right  direction.  How  much  like 
these  backsliding  Christians  that  engine-driver  was!  They  are 
going  ahead  backward  without  knowing  it,  and  of  course  they 
are  running  into  trains  which  are  headed  the  right  way.  Then 
they  blame  the  regular  trains  for  the  smash-up,  and  are  sure  that 
everything  is  going  wrong. 


198 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


(lO.)  FAITH. 


"I  Feei.  it  Pull." 

482.  In  the  deepening  twiliglat  of  a  summer  evening,  a  pas- 
tor called  at  the  residence  of  one  of  his  parishioners,  and  found 
seated  in  the  door- way  a  little  boy  with  both  hands  extended  up- 
ward, holding  a  line. 

' '  What  are  you  holding  here,  my  little  friend  ? ' '  inquired  the 
minister. 

"Flying  my  kite,  sir,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

'  *  Flying  j^our  kite ! ' '  exclaimed  the  pastor ;  "I  can  see  no  kite ;. 
you  can  see  none. ' ' 

"I  know  it,  sir,"  responded  the  lad;  "I  cannot  see  it,  but  I 
kiioiv  it  is  there,  for  I  feel  it  pull.'''' 

If  our  aflfedlions  are  set  on  things  above,  we  shall  have  a  sense 
of  it  which  cannot  be  mistaken. 


"Turn  Your  Face  to  the  IvIGht." 

483.  A  weary  and  discouraged  woman,  after  struggling  all 
day  with  contrary  winds  and  tides,  came  to  her  home,  and  fling- 
ing herself  into  a  chair,  said,  "Everj^thing  looks  dark,  dark." 
"Why  don't  j^ou  turn  your  face  to  the  light,  aunty  dear?"  said 
a  little  niece,  who  was  standing  near. 


PiLEOws  OE  Peace. 

484.  A  dying  man  was  asked,  "How  are  you  to-day?"  He 
said,  "My  head  is  resting  very  sweetly  on  three  pillows  —  infi- 
nite power,  infinite  love,  and  infinite  wisdom." 


Shaee  we  See  Good,  and  Not  Kvie? 

485.  The  famous  Oriental  philosopher,  Lokman,  while  a  slave^ 
being  presented  by  his  master  with  a  bitter  melon,  immediately 
ate  it  all.  "How  was  it  possible,"  said  his  mavSter,  "for  you  ta 
eat  so  nauseous  a  fruit  ?  "    Lokman  replied,  "  I  have  received  so 


RBVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


199 


many  favors  from  you,  it  is  no  wonder  I  should  for  once  in  my 
life  eat  a  bitter  melon  from  your  hand."  With  such  sentiments 
should  man  receive  his  portion  of  sufferings  at  the  hand  of  God. 


**GoD  Keeps  Hold  oe  the  Other  Hand." 

/|.86.  One  very  dark  night,  a  little  boy  was  returning  from  a 
visit  with  his  mother,  who  held  his  hand.  Suddenly,  he  ex- 
claimed, "Mamma,  I'm  not  afraid."  "Why,  what  makes  you 
feel  so  ? "    "  Because,  mamma,  God  keeps  hold  of  the  other  hand." 


"The  Bottom  of  the  Barrel." 

487.  Said  a  little  boy  to  his  mother,  who  was  very  poor,  and 
whom  the  Lord  had  often  wonderfully  helped,  ' '  Mother,  I  think 
God  always  hears  when  we  scrape  the  bottom  of  the  barrel." 


Believing  his  Master's  Word. 

488.  During  a  religious  awakening  in  a  manufa(5luring  vil- 
lage in  New  England,  a  foreman  was  awakened,  but  he  could  not 
find  peace.  His  superior  sent  him  a  letter,  requesting  him  to  call 
at  six  o'clock.  Puncftually  at  the  hour  specified,  he  came.  "I 
see  you  believe  me,"  said  his  master.  The  foreman  assented. 
"Well,  see,  here  is  another  letter,  which  One  still  more  in  earnest, 
and  far  more  to  be  trusted,  .sends  for  you,"  said  the  master,  hand- 
ing him  a  slip  of  paper,  on  which  were  written  a  few  texts  of 
Scripture.  The  man  took  the  paper,  and  began  to  read  slowly, 
"Come — unto — Me — all — ye — that — labor,"  etc.  His  lips  quiv- 
ered, his  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  he  joyfully  exclaimed :  "  I  see 
it !  I  see  it !  I  am  to  believe  that  in  the  same  way  that  I  believed 
your  letter. ' ' 


Simplicity  of  Faith. 

489.  A  pastor,  in  visiting  a  member  of  his  church,  found  her 
very  sick,  apparently  dying.    He  said  to  her:  — 

"Mrs.  M  ,  you  seem  to  be  very  sick." 

"Yes,"  said  she,  "I  am  dying." 
*  *  And  are  you  ready  to  die  ? " 


200 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


She  lifted  her  e^^es  upon  him  with  a  solemn  and  fixed  gaze,  and 
speaking  with  great  difficult}^  replied:  — 

"Sir,  God  knows  —  I  have  taken  him  —  at  his  word — and  I 

am  not  afraid  to  die. ' ' 

It  was  a  new  definition  of  faith. 


The  Power  of  the  Invisible. 

490.  We  were  reading,  recentl}^,  of  the  perils  of  a  bewildered 
and  storm-bound  party,  on  one  of  our  Western  mountains.  Press- 
ing on  in  the  blinding  snow,  the  track  lost,  the  cold  increasing, 
one  of  the  party  at  last  sank  down  to  die.    In  the  drowse  of  ap- 

Eroaching  death,  no  persuasions  or  expostulations  could  induce 
im  to  go  forward,  and  he  sank  into  a  bank  of  snow  to  die. 
But  taking  from  his  pocket  a  pidlure  of  his  wife  and  children, 
for  a  farewell  look,  the  vision  of  the  dear  ones  in  that  far-ofi"  home 
suddenly  broke  upon  his  heart.  It  was  resistless ;  what  threats 
and  entreaties  from  those  near  at  hand  could  not  effedl,  was  done 
in  an  instant  by  that  one  glance.  He  saw,  afar  off,  his  happy 
hom-e,  and  he  roused  himself  to  press  on  to  it;  with  the  new 
power  coming  in  from  that  sight,  he  pushed  forward  and  reached 
a  place  of  safety. 

It  is  a  good  illustration  of  the  influence  of  unseen  and  eternal 
things  upon  us.  When  we  are  faint,  we  shall  be  revived,  if  we 
only  "look  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith." 


FoivivOwiNG  Your  Guide. 

491.  The  following  illustration  is  impressively  used  by  Rev. 
J.  W.  Hott,  D.  D.:  — 

"We  were  going  from  Bethel  in  Judea,  down  to  the  ancient  Jeri- 
cho, and  had  to  cross  the  Quarantania  Mountains — the  mountains 
in  which  our  Savior  passed  those  dreadful  forty  days  and  nights 
in  temptation.  The  path  proved  to  be  a  desolate  mountain  wil- 
derness. For  many  miles  there  was  no  house,  no  village,  no  evi- 
dence of  even  the  rude  civilization  of  other  parts  of  the  country. 
We  were,  indeed,  in  the  wilderness.  Over  great  rocky  heights, 
along  the  edge  of  mighty  precipices,  in  deep  valleys,  over  barren 
wastes,  our  w^ay  for  many  a  weary  mile  extended,  as  we  journeyed 
in  the  iDroiling  sun.  It  was  the  most  desolate  of  all  our  journeys 
in  the  Holy  Land.  We  were  weary  of  the  journey.  Some  of  our 
company  complained  of  the  way.  Some  said  the  dragoman,  or 
guide,  did  not  know  the  way.    He  overheard  the  expressions  of 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


201 


dissatisfadlion,  and  was  sullen,  and  said  but  little,  but  rode  on 
as  rapidly  as  bis  beast  could  get  over  the  rocks.  Some  of  our 
number  wanted  to  appoint  one  of  tbe  company,  who  had  a  com- 
pass, and  knew  the  direcftions  of  the  places  desired  to  be  reached, 
as  the  leader,  and  let  the  dragoman  and  guide  go.  The  dissatis- 
facftion  and  weariness  were  great.  Better  suggestions  were  made. 
The  danger  of  the  situation  in  these  Quarantania  Mountains  was 
pointed  out.  The  importance  of  following  the  guide  was  urged. 
Having  taken  lunch,  it  was  agreed  that  we  should  continue  to 
follow  our  guide.  And  so,  on  over  still  more  terrible  wastes,  our 
journey  was  continued.  But  as  the  even-tide  came  on,  and  the 
sun  was  sinking  beyond  the  mountains  over  which  we  had  come, 
we  rode  slowly  down,  over  chalky  hills,  into  the  Jordan  Valley. 
As  the  plain  began  to  spread  out  at  our  feet,  far  away  on  the  site 
of  ancient  Jericho  rose  in  sight  white  tents.  Then  we  let  our 
horses  gallop  down  the  valley  to  the  spot  where  we  were  to  camp 
for  a  few  days  in  the  valley  of  the  Jordan.  One  of  our  attend- 
ants, who  chose  his  own  way  in  the  mountains,  was  lost  in  the 
darkness  in  the  mountains,  and  all  the  night  long  was  compelled 
to  remain  in  that  desolate  wilderness,  hungry  and  alone,  exposed 
to  the  wild  beasts  which  roam  there,  and  to  the  wandering  rob- 
bers. 

In  the  mountains  of  Christ's  temptations  I  had  learned  the 
sublime  and  precious  lesson,  that  safety  lies  alone  in  faithfully 
following  our  Divine  Guide,  in  every  hour  and  mountain  of  temp- 
tation. 


"lE  THE  Lord  was  Driving." 

492.  Two  little  boj^s  were  talking  together  about  a  lesson 
they  had  been  receiving  from  their  grandmother,  on  the  subjedl 
of  Elijah's  going  to  heaven  in  a  chariot  of  fire. 

"I  say,  Charlie,"  said  George,  "but  wouldn't  you  be  afraid  to 
ride  on  such  a  chariot  ? ' ' 

"Why,  no,"  said  Charlie,  "  I  shouldn't  be  afraid  if  I  knew  the 
lyord  was  driving. ' ' 


"My  Father  Knows." 

493*  In  one  of  the  public  schools  of  a  large  city,  while  the 
school  was  in  session,  a  transom  window  fell  out  with  a  crash. 
By  some  means  the  cry  of  "fire"  was  raised,  and  a  terrible  panic 
ensued.  The  scholars  rushed  into  the  street,  shrieking  in  wild 
dismay.  The  alarm  extended  to  the  teachers,  also,  one  of  whom, 
a  young  lady,  adtuall}^  jumped  from  the  window.    Among  the 


202 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


Riindreds  of  children  with  whom  the  building  was  crowded,  was 
one  girl,  among  the  best  in  school,  who,  through  all  the  frightful 
scene,  maintained  entire  composure.  The  color,  indeed,  forsook 
her  cheek;  her  lips  quivered;  the  tears  stood  in  her  e3'es;  but 
she  moved  not.  After  order  had  been  restored,  and  her  compan- 
ions had  been  brought  back  to  their  places,  the  question  was 
asked  her,  how  she  came  to  sit  still,  without  apparent  alarm,  when 
everybod}-  else  was  in  such  a  fright.  ' '  My  father, ' '  said  she,  ' '  is 
a  fireman,  and  knows  what  to  do  in  such  a  case,  and  he  told  me 
if  there  was  an  alarm  of  fire  in  the  school,  I  must  just  sit  still." 
What  a  beautiful  illustration  of  faith !  ' '  ^Ly  father  told  me  so, 
and  m\'  father  knows ! ' ' 

That  is  the  gist  of  the  whole  matter — implicit,  unfaltering  Imst 
in  our  Heavenly  Father, 


Faith  in  His  Father. 

494.  In  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  there  is  a  mountain  gorge 
twenty  feet  in  width,  and  two  hundred  feet  in  depth.  Its  perpen- 
dicular walls  are  bare  of  vegetation,  save  in  the  crevices,  in  which 
grow  numerous  wild  flowers  of  rare  beaut}'.  Desirous  of  obtain- 
ing specimens  of  these  mountain  beauties,  some  scientific  tourists 
once  offered  a  Highland  boy  a  handsome  gift  if  he  would  consent 
to  be  lowered  down  by  a  rope,  and  would  gather  a  little  basket 
full  of  them.  The  boy  looked  wistfully  at  the  mone}-,  for  his 
parents  were  poor ;  but  when  he  gazed  at  the  3'awning  chasm  he 
shuddered,  shrank  back,  and  declined.  But  filial  love  was  strong 
within  him ;  after  another  glance  at  the  gift  and  at  the  fissure,  his 
heart  grew  strong,  and  his  eye  flashed,  and  he  said,  "I  will  go, 
if  my  father  will  hold  the  rope."  And  then,  with  unshrinking 
nerves,  and  his  heart  firmly  strong,  he  suffered  his  father  to  put 
the  rope  about  him,  lower  him  into  the  wild  ab^-ss,  and  suspend 
him  there  while  he  filled  his  basket  with  the  coveted  flowers.  It 
was  a  daring  deed,  but  his  faith  in  the  strength  of  his  father's 
arm,  and  the  love  of  his  father's  heart,  gave  him  courage  and 
power  to  perform  it. 


"God  Heeps  Those  Who  Help  Themselves." 

495.  A  little  story  is  told  of  Christmas  Evans,  the  celebrated 
Welsh  preacher,  and  his  diligent,  thrift}',  common-sense  wife. 
One  day  she  reminded  him  that  the  potato  patch  needed  some  at- 
tention ;  but  he  said,  "O  Catherine,  never  mind  the  potatoes; 
just  put  \-our  trust  in  Providence,  and  all  will  be  well." 

She  replied:  "I'll  tell  you  what  we' 11  do,  Christmas;  you  go  and 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


sit  down  on  Moelly  Gest  [a  neighboring  mountain] ,  waiting  for 
Providence,  and  I'll  go  and  hoe  the  potatoes,  and  we'll  see  to 
which  of  us  Providence  will  first  come. ' ' 


Doing  and  Trusting. 

496.  A  schooner  was  being  towed  out  of  Chippewa  harbor, 
on  the  Niagara  River,  not  very  far  above  the  falls.  Suddenly  the 
hawser  parted,  and  there  went  the  vessel  drifting  off  toward  the 
fatal  falls.  Intense  excitement  seized  upon  the  spectators,  as  they 
witnessed  the  accident,  and  saw  the  perilous  situation  of  the  vessel 
and  its  crew.    What  could  they  do  ? 

Providentially  there  was  a  strong  breeze  blowing  up  the  river ; 
and  as  the  spectators  on  the  shore  gazed  upon  the  vessel,  they 
saw  the  crew  hastily  hoisting  the  sails.  They  fill  with  the  wind; 
the  downward  course  of  the  vessel  is  arrested ;  she  stops,  wind 
battling  against  the  current  for  mastery;  slowly  she  begins  to 
make  headway,  till  at  last,  gathering  way,  she  makes  off  on  her 
course,  and  is  out  of  danger.    Doing  and  trusting  rescued  her. 


"According  to  Your  Faith." 

497.  It  is  said  that  Admiral  Farragut  was  once  listening 
while  Dupont  explained  why  he  failed  to  enter  Charleston  Harbor. 
He  gave  this  reason,  and  that  reason,  and  the  other  reason.  Far- 
ragut remained  silent  until  he  had  finished.  He  then  said,  "Ah! 
Dupont,  there  was  one  more  reason," 

"What  is  that?" 

""You  didn't  believe  you  could  do  it.'" 

As  the  question  comes  to  us  to-day,  How  much  can  we  do  for 
Christ,  and  how  much  can  w^e  obtain  from  him  ?  it  is  not  Admiral 
Farragut,  but  the  voice  of  the  Lord  himself,  that  says,  "Accord- 
ing to  your  faith  be  it  unto  you," 


"My  Faith  Has  Risen." 

498.  Munhall  was  called  to  a  large  town  of  Northern  Indiana 
to  aid  in  organizing  a  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  About 
seven  hundred  dollars  w^ere  needed  to  start  the  reading-room,  and 
other  equipments.  A  prominent  manufa(5lurer  said  that  if  Brother 
C  ,  a  rich  but  stingy  and  illiterate  man,  would  give  a  hundred , 


204 


the:  gospei.  worker's  treasury. 


lie  would  do  likewise.    Brother  C  was  ver}^  much  interested, 

and  when  approached,  promised  twenty-five  dollars,  with  flour- 
ish of  trumpets.  When  asked  for  one  hundred,  he  couldn't — 
wouldn't.  After  six  or  eight  hours'  talk,  he  finally  asked  for  the 
paper — read  it,  and  re-read  it;  began  his  name,  stopped,  and  re- 
read; began  writing  again,  and  again.  Finally,  he  made  a  "  i," 
then  a  "o,"  and  another,  heaved  a  great  sigh,  and  ejaculated,  "My 
faith  has  risen. ' ' 


A  Cure  for  Doubts. 

499*  When  Dr.  Marshman  was  a  3'oung  man  at  home,  he 
was  frequently  the  subjedt  of  doubts  and  fears.  On  his  return 
from  India,  after  nearly  thirty  years'  residence  and  labor  there, 
William  Jay  said  to  him :  — 

"Well,  Doctor,  how  about  doubts  and  fears ? " 

"  Haven't  had  time  for  them,"  was  the  answer. 


(11.)  PRAYER. 


"I  Begged." 

500.  A  little  boy,  one  of  the  Sunday-school  children  in  Jamai- 
ca, called  upon  the  missionary  and  stated  that  he  had  lately  been 
very  ill,  and  in  his  sickness  had  often  wished  his  minister  had  been 
present  to  pray  with  him.  "But,  Thomas,"  said  the  missionary, 
"I  hope  you  prayed."  "O  yes,  sir."  "Did  you  repeat  the  col- 
ledl  I  taught  you  ?"  "I  prayed. "  "  Why,  but  how  did  you  pray  ? ' ' 
"Why,  sir,  I  begged!" 


"My  Heart  Talked." 

501.  A  Sunday-school  child,  only  six  years  old,  said,  "When 
we  kneel  down  in  the  schoolroom  to  pray,  it  seems  as  if  my  heart 
talked." 


"For  Charlie's  Sake." 

502.  During  the  late  war,  a  soldier  came  into  the  ofiice  of 
Judge  A.  one  day,  poorly  clad,  his  face  bearing  the  deep  lines  of 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTEvS. 


205 


suffering.  The  soldier  fumbled  in  his  pocket  a  long  time,  and 
then  said,  in  an  uncertain,  disappointed  voice,  as  if  he  saw  that  he 
was  unwelcome,  ' '  I  did  have  a  letter  for  you. ' '  The  Judge,  adling 
against- the  promptings  of  a  warm  and  generous  heart,  for  he  was 
busy  and  did  not  want  to  be  interrupted,  made  no  reply.  But  pres- 
ently a  thin,  trembling  hand  pushed  a  note  along  the  desk.  The 
Judge  raised  his  head,  and  was  about  to  say,  ' '  I  have  no  time  for 
such  matters,"  when  he  saw  that  the  writing  was  that  of  his  own 
son,  a  soldier  in  the  army.  He  took  up  the  note,  which  read  thus : — 
Dear  Fathej'':  The  bearer  of  this  is  a  soldier  discharged  from 
the  hospital.  He  is  going  home  to  die.  Assist  him  in  any  way 
you  can,  for  Charlie's  sake." 

All  the  tender  feelings  of  his  heart  gushed  out.  As  he  after- 
wards said :  "I  took  the  soldier  to  my  heart  for  Charlie's  sake.  I 
let  him  sleep  in  Charlie's  bed.  I  clothed  him  and  supplied  him 
with  every  comfort,  for  the  sake  of  my  ow^n  dear  boy." 

Who  needs  to  be  told,  that  when  he  asks  a  favor  of  God,  he  should 
ask  it  for  Christ's  sake  ? 


Ask  Great  Things  of  God. 

503.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  one  day  asking  a  favor  from  Queen 
Elizabeth,  the  latter  said  to  him,  "Raleigh,  when  will  you  leave 
off  begging?"  To  which  he  answered,  "When  your  Majesty 
leaves  off  giving. ' '  Ask  great  things  of  God.  I^et  his  past  good- 
ness make  us  instant  in  prayer. 


lyOST  Prayers. 

504*  Certainly  all  the  "pretense"  prayers  (whether  "long" 
or  short)  must  go  among  the  eternal  strays. 

A  writer  in  the  Texas  Observer  draws  some  sharp  analogies  be- 
tween the  ' '  Dead-Letter  Ofiice ' '  and  the  Dead-Prayer  OfB.ce.  Like 
many  letters  which  never  reach  their  destination,  many  prayers 
have  to  be  marked  "  missent,"  or  with  some  other  fatal  brand,  and 
consigned  to  oblivion. 

Sometimes  prayers  remain  unanswered  because  they  are  not  di- 
recfted  rightly — not  addressed  to  God  but  to  the  audience.  Other 
prayers  never  * '  go  through ' '  because  the  address  is  illegible.  They 
are  too  full  of  pomp  and  rhetorical  flourish — mere  "monologues 
of  flowery  prose." 

Other  prayers  get  lost  because  they  are  "  unmailable  matter" — 
prayers  whose  answers  might  gratify  us,  but  would  fall  like 
showers  of  daggers  on  our  neighbors — and  so  are  denied  passage 


206 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


through  the  Divine  channels,  as  sharp-edged  tools,  corroding  acids, 
explosives,  and  the  like  are  not  allowed  in  the  mails. 

No  legall}'  "stamped,"  sincereh'  directed,  and  well-meaning 
prayer  is  ever  lost.  The  answer  ma}'  be  delayed,  but  the  praj-er 
is  "on  file. ' ' 


"His  Life  Does  Not  Pray." 

505.  Among  a  crew  of  eight,  on  a  vessel  bound  for  Lisbon, 
were  two  professing  Christians.  One  of  them  was  an  earnest 
worker  for  his  Master,  but  the  other  was  not  known  as  a  Chris- 
tian until  the  efforts  of  the  former  were  producing  fruit  in  the 
conviction  of  some  of  his  shipmates,  and  pra\'er-meetings  were 
started  in  the  forecastle.  He  then  offered  to  assist  his  more  faith- 
ful brother,  but  a  3-oung  sailor  objected,  saying:  "I  cannot  hear 
him  pray  for  me.  His  life  does  not  pray.  Let  him  first  repent  of 
his  unfaithfulness,  and  confess  to  God  and  his  shipmates,  and  then 
we  will  hear  him."  The  rebuke  was  felt,  but  produced  anger 
rather  than  humiliation. 


Prayers  that  "Wake  up  the  Baby." 

506.    A  little  five-3'ear  old  girl  in  the  city  asked  her  father  one 

day  if  it  would  do  any  good  if  she  should  pray  to  God  to  let  it  rain. 
She  was  told,  perhaps  it  might,  and  nothing  more  was  thought  of 
it  by  her  parents  till  after  next  Sunday  evening's  shower. 

When  she  awoke  Monday'  morning,  she  asked  her  father  if  he 
knew  what  made  it  rain.  He  said  "No"  ;  and  she  replied  that  it 
was  because  she  had  pra^'ed  "last  night  and  the  night  before." 

Her  mother  remarked  that  she  did  not  pray  hard  enough,  for  it 
rained  only  a  little,  when  the  child  answered,  "Well,  I  didn't  want 
to  w^ake  up  the  baby. ' ' 

Unwittingly  the  little  girl  described  a  sort  of  delicate  constraint 
in  some  Christians'  praj-ers  that  is  not  so  justifiable.  Thej^  are 
too  conscious  of  their  surroundings.  Prayer  like  that  of  a  mother 
agonizing  for  the  welfare  of  her  child  is  not  moderated  hy  fears 
of  "waking  the  bab3^" 


He  was  Well  Drilled. 

507.  A  Highlander  in  the  British  army,  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  was  caught  one  evening  creeping  out  of  a  thicket  just 
beyond  the  lines,  evidentl}^  returning  from  some  secret  errand. 
The  American  outposts  (along  the  Hudson)  were  then  quite  near 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


207 


those  of  the  British,  and  being  concealed  in  the  forest,  their  exadt 
number  and  distance  were  alwa\-s  uncertain.  Under  the  circum- 
stances the  Highlander  was  suspecT;ed  of  being  an  informer,  i.  e., 
in  communication  vrith  the  enemy.  It  was  shorth^  after  the  exe- 
cution of  Major  Andre;  and  the  enraged  British  were  in  no  state 
to  let  a  man  go  who  was  accused  of  sympath}'  with  the  Americans. 
The  soldier  was  taken  before  his  colonel,  and  the  witnesses  of  his 
presumed  guilt  told  their  story. 

' '  What  have  you  to  say  for  yourself  ?  "  demanded  the  colonel, 
with  a  threatening  frown. 

"  Onl}^  this,  sir;  I  got  awa}'  quieth'  from  m3^  comrades  to  pray 
a  bit  while  in  the  bush,  and  was  coming  back  when  the  soldiers 
took  me." 

"Are  you  in  the  habit  of  pra34ng  ?  "  demanded  the  ofiicer. 
"Yes,  sir." 

* '  Then  praj'  now.  You  never  needed  it  more  in  3'our  life. ' '  And 
the  colonel  took  out  his  watch.  Fully  believing  that  he  had  but 
a  few  minutes  to  live,  the  Christian  soldier  knelt  and  poured  out 
his  soul  in  such  language  as  onl^^  a  friend  of  God  could  use.  All 
who  heard  it  were  astonished,  the  commander  himself  among  the 
rest.  "Go,"  said  he;  "you  have  told  the  truth.  If  you  had  not 
been  often  to  drill,  you  could  not  have  done  so  well  at  review." 


Christian  Courage  Rewarded. 

508.  One  of  our  freight  conduclors,  who  had  been  converted, 
was  visited  b^'  his  father,  who  had  once  been  a  Christian.  When 
the  time  came  for  retiring,  the  son  gathered  his  famih'  around  the 
family-  altar,  so  recenth'  erecled,  and  lifted  his  heart  to  God  in 
pra\-er.  It  sent  conviction  to  the  father's  heart,  and  the  next 
evening  at  church  he  was  found  among  those  who  were  bowed 
before  God,  seeking  the  forgiveness  of  sins.  To-daj^  he  is  rejoic- 
ing in  a  Savior's  love.  So  much  for  that  son's  having  done  his 
dutj^  His  father  will  probablj'  be  a  star  in  the  crown  of  his  re- 
joicing throughout  eternit3\ 


"I'LL  Try  That." 

509.  A  minister  once  asserted  to  his  congregation  that  any 
man  who  would  honestl}^  seek  the  favor  of  God  and  the  forgive- 
ness of  his  sins  would  not  fail  to  find  peace  and  blessing,  and  find 
them  soon.  A  skeptic  who  was  present  happened  to  be  in  the 
mood  to  take  him  at  his  word.  "  I'll  try  that,"  he  said  to  himself. 
He  went  home,  and  in  honesty  of  soul  bowed  the  knee  before  a 


208 


THE  GOSPKI/  worker's  treasury. 


God  of  whose  very  existence  he  was  not  assured,  and  asked  that  if 
there  was  a  God,  he  might  receive  the  knowledge  of  his  existence 
and  of  his  will.  He  did  not  pray  in  vain.  Strange  emotions  were 
awakened  within  his  heart ;  new  impulses  stirred  his  mind ;  the 
power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  was  present  to  win  and  save,  and,  when 
the  appointed  time  had  elapsed,  he  went  to  the  house  of  prayer, 
not  to  contradicft  the  statement  of  the  minister  and  brand  his  re- 
ligion as  a  falsehood,  but  to  testify  that,  by  personal  experience, 
he  had  proved  that  the  Son  of  man  has  power  on  earth  to  forgive 
sins,  and  that  there  is  peace  in  believing  on  the  I^ord  Jesus  Christ. 


' '  I  Want  to  Pray  to  Jesus  First.  ' ' 

510.  A  sweet  and  intelligent  little  girl  was  passing  quietly 
through  the  streets  of  a  certain  town  a  short  time  since,  when  she 
came  to  a  spot  where  several  idle  boys  were  amusing  themselves 
by  the  dangerous  pradlice  of  throwing  stones.  Not  observing  her, 
one  of  the  boys,  by  accident,  threw  a  stone  toward  her  and  struck 
her  a  cruel  blow  in  the  eye. 

She  was  carried  home  in  great  agony.  The  do(fi:or  was  sent  for, 
and  a  very  painful  operation  was  declared  necessary.  When  the 
time  came  and  the  surgeon  had  taken  out  his  instruments,  she  lay 
in  her  father's  arms,  and  he  asked  her  if  she  was  ready  for  the 
dodlor  to  do  what  he  could  to  cure  her  eye. 

"No,  father,  not  yet,"  she  replied. 

'  *  What  do  you  wish  us  to  wait  for,  my  child  ?  ' ' 

"  I  want  to  kneel  in  your  lap  and  pray  to  Jesus  first,"  she  an- 
swered. 

And  then,  kneeling,  she  prayed  a  few  minutes,  and  afterward 
submitted  to  the  operation  with  all  the  patience  of  a  strong  woman. 


Praying  for  Wood. 

511.  Rev.  E.  B.  Slade  tells  an  interesting  instance  of  answered 
prayer.  One  cold  winter  he  was  forty  miles  away  from  home,  hold- 
ing revival  services,  when,  in  the  midst  of  a  terrible  snow-storm, 
during  which  travel  was  almost  wholly  impossible,  his  wife,  at 
home,  ran  out  of  wood.  To  save  the  little  that  remained,  she  put 
her  children  to  bed  and  wrapped  them  up  in  blankets.  At  last 
baking  must  be  done,  and  making  a  fire  of  her  last  wood,  she  be- 
gan to  pray  that  help  might  come,  and  persevered  until  her  faith 
won  the  vicftory.  She  the^  went  about  her  work  in  perfect  peace 
of  mind,  assured  that  relief  would  come.    In  the  course  of  a  few 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


20^ 


hotirs,  her  nearest  neighbor,  a  lady,  waded  through  the  snow,  say- 
ing that  she  had  been  impressed  that  she  must  come  over  and  see 
what  was  the  matter.  The  fadls  were  stated  and  relief  promised. 
Hardly  had  she  gone  when  another  lady  came  in  with  the  same 
statement,  and  the  same  olfer  was  made.  A  little  while  later  a 
gentleman  came  in,  expressing  the  same  feeling,  and  when  he 
learned  the  fa(5ts  he  took  them  all  to  his  home  and  cared  for  them 
until  Rev.  Mr.  Slade  returned  home. 


"Try  It  on  Mk." 

512.  While  Rev.  Dr.  Earle  was  holding  a  series  of  meetings 
at  Oneonta,  N.  Y. ,  a  man  rose  in  the  public  congregation  and  said : 
' '  You  have  been  talking  about  the  power  of  prayer  in  these  meet- 
ings, and  I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it;  but  if  you  want  a  hard  case 
to  try  it  on,  try  it  on  me."  The  challenge  was  accepted,  and  the 
Christians  united  in  public  and  secret  prayer  for  him.  Within 
three  days  he  was  under  deep  convidlion,  and  was  soon  converted. 
He  is  now  a  presiding  elder  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


On  God's  Errand. 

513.  Mr.  Spurgeon  says  (in  his  ' '  Sword  and  Trowel "),  that  one 
afternoon,  when  he  was  a  young  country  minister,  as  he  returned 
home  after  a  day  of  weary  riding,  an  unaccountable  impulse 
prompted  him  to  go  and  visit  a  certain  poor  widow  and  her  invalid 
daughter  before  he  put  out  his  horse.  He  could  not  resist  the  feel- 
ing, and  though  almost  at  the  stable  door,  he  turned  about  and 
rode  back.    He  tells  the  rest  of  the  story  as  follows :  — 

"I  was  thinking  only  of  the  poor  widow's  spiritzLal  needs;  but 
when  I  reached  her  little  house,  I  was  struck  with  its  look  of  un- 
wonted bareness  and  poverty.  After  putting  a  little  money  into 
her  hand,  I  began  to  inquire  into  their  circumstances,  and  found 
that  their  supplies  had  been  utterly  exhausted  since  the  night  be- 
fore.   I  asked  them  what  they  had  done. 

* ' '  I  just  spread  it  out  before  the  Lord ! ' 

*' '  Did  you  tell  your  case  to  any  friend  ? ' 

"'Oh,  no,  sir;  nobody  kens  but  Himsel'  and  me!  I  kent  He 
wadna  forget,  but  I  didna  ken  hoo  He  would  help  me  till  I  saw 
you  come  riding  ower  the  brea,  and  then  I  said,  '  There's  the 
Lord's  answer! ' 

* '  Many  a  time  has  the  recolle(5lion  of  this  incident  encouraged 
me  to  trust  in  the  loving  care  of  my  Heavenly  Father. ' ' 

14 


210 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


"Take  the  Troubi^e  to  Pray." 

514.  A  God-fearing  lad  was  reasoning-  with  a  wretched  com- 
panion about  his  continuance  in  a  wicked  course.  The  rejoinder 
was:  "It  is  the  right  thing  for  you,  Harry,  to  be  glad,  for  you 
have  lots  of  people  who  care  for  you ;  but  as  for  me,  nobody  prays 
for  7?ie;  I'm  so  bad  that  nobody  thinks  it  worth  while  to  pray  for 
me — if  they  ever  did  pray  for  me,  they  have  given  it  up  now." 
' '  Don't  say  that,  Jack ;  God  is  my  witness  that  I  never  lie  down  but 
I  pray,  'O  God,  bring  dear  Jack  into  the  fold  of  Christ.'  "  Jack 
wept  and  repented.  Let  no  perishing  school-fellow  be  able  to  say, 
"You  would  not  lake  the  trouble  to  pray  for  me,  or  you  might  have 
saved  my  soul." 


Prayer  for  Young  Peopi^e  Answered. 

515.  In  1825  the  young  people  of  a  small  village  in  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y.,  arranged  for  a  sleigh-ride  on  New-year's  Day,  and 
a  ball  at  a  public  house,  some  few  miles  away,  in  the  evening.  A 
meeting  for  prayer  was  extemporized  at  the  pastor's  house,  and 
the  entire  night  was  spent  in  agonizing  supplication  for  this  com- 
pany of  young  people. 

At  the  ball,  and  while  they  were  engaged  in  the  dance,  a  strange 
influence  came  upon  them  with  resistless  power,  and  nearly  all  of 
the  company  were  compelled  to  leave  their  places  on  the  floor,  and, 
in  tears,  resumed  their  seats.  The  dancing  ceased.  The  party 
broke  up'  at  a  much  earlier  hour  than  was  intended.  They  re- 
turned home,  some  of  them,  to  find  their  parents  pleading  at  the 
Mercy-seat  for  their  conversion.  The  daughter  of  the  pastor  (one 
of  the  party),  and  her  friend,  as  they  entered  the  house,  bowed,  too, 
in  prayer  for  themselves ;  and  before  morning  they  were  both  rejoic- 
ing in  a  Savior  found.  An  extensive  revival  followed,  in  which 
over  one  hundred  persons,  most  of  them  these  young  sleigh-riders, 
were  added  to  the  church. 


A  Prayer-Meeting  of  One. 

516.  A  weekly  prayer-meeting  in  a  neighborhood  a  few  miles 
from  Philadelphia,  had  so  declined  in  interest  and  support  that  it 
was  voted  to  discontinue  it;  but  one  aged  woman  continued  to 
go  regularly  to  the  chapel,  and  meet  God  alone.  One  night  two 
strangers  heard  her  voice,  and  went  in  and  listened  while  she 

? rayed  and  talked ;  and  then  they  went  away  and  told  the  story, 
'he  next  Sunday  night  the  chapel  was  full.    A  precious  ingather- 
ing of  souls  followed,  resulting  in  the  formation  of  a  church,  and 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


2il 


the  making  of  many  faithful  disciples,  one  of  whom  became  a 
successful  minister. 

This  is  not  the  only  instance  in  which  a  single  supporter  has 
saved  a  crippled  prayer-meeting  or  a  precarious  religious  interest. 


The;  Power  oe  Faith. 

517,  A  young  man  in  New  York  was  deeply  concerned  for  the 
salvation  of  his  father  in  Massachusetts.  He  left  the  Fulton  Street 
prayer-meeting  and  took  passage  on  a  Long  Island  Sound  steamer. 
He  took  a  state-room  alone,  and  spent  nearly  all  night  in  wrest- 
ling prayer  for  his  father.  On  reaching  home  the  next  evening, 
he  took  down  the  Bible  and  said,  ' '  Father,  let  us  read  a  chapter  in 
the  Bible  and  pray."  "Certainly,"  said  the  father;  "you  read." 
After  reading,  his  father  led  off  in  prayer,  pouring  forth  the  most 
earnest  petitions.  ' '  Father, ' '  said  the  son,  as  they  rose  from  their 
knees,  ' ' how  long  is  it  since  God  gave  you  a  heart  to  pray  ? "  "I 
first  began  last  night.  I  was  awakened  in  the  night,  and  cried  to 
God  for  mercy,  and  he  has  had  mercy  upon  me. ' ' 


A  Triple  Success. 

5x8.  Three  Christians  made  an  agreement  to  pray  for  three 
prominent  men  in  the  community,  which  was  done  for  several 
weeks.  One  evening  they  were  gathered  with  their  pastor  for  a 
season  of  devotion,  when  these  three  men  successively  entered  to 
inquire  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.  In  that  circle  of  prayer 
to  which  they  already  owed  so  much,  they  soon  found  peace. 


Twenty  Years  oe  Prayer. 

519.  A  husband  sought  to  draw  back  into  the  world  his  wife, 
w^ho  had  been  recently  converted,  but  with  no  success.  On  the 
other  hand  she  sought  to  win  him  for  Christ,  biit  he  would  not 
yield.  Twenty  years  she  prayed  and  lived  a  faithful  Christian 
life,  before  he  accepted  her  Lord.  But  then  he  became  a  devoted 
Christian. 


Revival  Due  to  Prayer. 

520.  Mr.  Finney  speaks  of  a  poor  consumptive  who  could  only 
repay  a  rich  merchant  who  often  supplied  him  in  times  of  distress 


212 


THK  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


by  praying  for  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  To  the  surprise  of  the 
community,  the  merchant  suddenly  made  a  profession  of  faith,  and 
so  started  a  revival.  The  same  invalid  also  made  a  practice  of 
praying  for  the  various  churches  of  his  acquaintance,  making  a 
note  of  the  facft  when  he  was  able  to  offer  ' '  the  prayer  of  faith ' ' 
in  behalf  of  each  of  the  several  churches  and  pastors.  The  revival 
which  followed  went  through  the  country  round  about  in  nearly 
the  order  in  which  they  had  been  mentioned  in  the  diary. 


Revival  the  Result  oe  Prayer. 

521.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  thus  writes  from  Connedticut :  ' '  One 
day  old  Deacon  Miller,  a  holy  man,  sent  for  me.  He  was  sick  iu 
bed.  '  I  am  glad  to  see  you, '  he  said.  *  I  know  how  you  feel.  You 
must  not  be  discouraged,  I  lie  on  my  bed  at  night  and  pray  for 
you.  I've  been  praying  for  all  the  village.  I  begin  at  one  end 
and  go  into  the  next  house,  and  then  to  the  next,  till  I  have  gone 
round;  and  then  I  have  not  prayed  enough,  so  I  begin  and  go 
round  again.'  I  went  home  expe(5ling;  and  word  was  sent  from 
the  Springs  that  the  Lord  had  come  down  on  the  previous  Sunday, 
and  that  a  meeting  was  appointed  for  Tuesday  evening,  and  that 
I  must  not  disappoint  them.  Then  I  went  to  the  Northwest,  and 
the  Lord  was  there ;  then  to  Ammigansett,  and  the  Lord  was  there ; 
and  the  flood  was  rolling  all  around.  O,  what  a  time  that  was  I 
There  were  a  hundred  converts,  nearly,  who,  most  of  them,  stood 
fast." 


A  Revival  Assured. 

522.  An  aged  saint  once  came  to  his  pastor  at  night  and  said, 
"We  are  about  to  have  a  revival."  He  was  asked  why  he  knew 
so.  His  answer  was :  "  I  went  into  the  stable  to  take  care  of  my 
cattle  two  hours  ago,  and  there  the  Lord  kept  me  in  prayer  until 
just  now.  And  I  feel  that  we  are  going  to  be  revived."  It  was 
the  commencement  of  a  revival. 


"The  Secret  was  Out." 

523.  Mr.  Finney  says :  "I  once  knew  a  minister  who  had  a  re- 
vival fourteen  years  in  succession.  I  did  not  know  how  to  account 
for  it,  till  I  saw  one  of  his  members  get  up  in  a  prayer-meeting  and 
make  a  confession.    '  Brethren,'  said  he,  '  I  have  long  been  in  the 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES.  213 

iabit  of  praying  every  Saturday  night  till  after  midnight,  for  the 
descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost  among  us.  And  now,  brethren '  (and 
he  began  to  weep),  '  I  confess  that  I  have  negle(5led  it  for  two  or 
three  weeks.'  The  secret  was  out.  That  minister  had  a  praying 
church. ' ' 


A  Revival  Accounted  For. 

524.  A  minister  once  said,  * '  I  have  had  an  unaccountable  re- 
vival ;  I  cannot  trace  it  to  any  cause. ' '  Visiting  an  invalid  woman 
of  his  church,  one  day,  she  said,  "You  have  had  a  precious  re- 
vival. "  "  We  have, ' '  he  answered.  '  *  I  knew  it  was  coming, ' '  said 
she.  And  then  she  proceeded  to  give  her  pastor  an  account  of  the 
burden  that  had  been  upon  her  heart  for  weeks,  and  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  her  soul  had  gone  forth  in  prayer  for  the  unconverted 
in  midnight  hours ;  and  before  the  interview  closed,  the  pastor  felt 
he  knew  that  the  unaccountable  revival  was  accounted  for. 


United  Prayer. 

525.  For  ten  long  years  Mrs.  H.  prayed  for  her  infidel  husband. 
She  knew  that  the  I^ord  heard,  and  that  he  was  "faithful  that  had 
promised ' ' ;  but  as  yet  the  answer  did  not  come.  The  thoughts 
of  her  kind,  indulgent  companion  seemed  as  far  from  her  as  when, 
in  the  joy  of  her  new-found  hope,  she  had  told  him  how  "  God  so 
loved,"  and  asked  him  to  join  her  in  a  life  of  loving  service.  Yes, 
the  Lord  was  leading  her  gently,  that  she  might  know  and  do  his 
will. 

One  evening  at  the  church  prayer-meeting  her  heart  was  more 
than  usually  burdened,  and  near  the  close  of  the  service  she  rose 
timidly  and  said:  "  For  many  years,  dear  friends,  I  have  longed 
to  ask  you  to  help  me  pray.  It  is  not  customary  with  us  for  ladies 
to  speak  in  the  meeting,  and  I  have  feared  to  be  intrusive,  but  I 
can  forbear  no  longer.    Will  you  pray  for  my  husband  ? ' ' 

Kvery  heart  was  touched.  A  good  brother  immediately  led  in 
prayer,  and  another  took  up  the  petition.  Mr.  H.  was  well  known 
and  much  loved  in  the  community,  and  they  poured  out  their  hearts 
before  the  Lord,  pleading  "  as  one  pleadeth  for  a  friend."  Last  of 
all  a  colored  brother  led  in  prayer,  and  in  humble  confidence  seemed 
to  enter  into  the  very  presence  of  Jehovah. 

Just  after  Mrs.  H.  had  made  her  request,  her  husband,  as  was  his 
custom,  came  to  church  to  accompany  her  home.  Finding  that 
the  service  had  not  yet  closed,  he  entered  unobserved,  and  took  a 
seat  near  the  door. 


214 


THE  GOSPEI/  worker's  TREASURY. 


'*Tell  me,  wife,"  he  said,  as  they  were  leaving  the  vestibul^^ 
'*  who  was  the  gentleman  they  were  pra3dng  for  just  now  ?  " 

"He  is  the  husband  of  one  of  the  ladies  of  the  church,"  replied 
Mrs.  H. 

"Wife,"  he  said  again,  as  they  ascended  the  steps  at  home,, 
' '  who  was  it  they  were  praying  for  ?  " 

"The  husband  of  one  of  the  sisters,  Charles." 

"  Well,  wife,"  he  replied,  "that  man  will  certainly  be  converted;: 
I  never  heard  such  prayers  before. ' ' 

Again,  as  they  were  preparing  for  the  night,  he  remarked:: 
' '  Those  were  wonderful  prayers,  wife.  Can  you  tell  me  the  gen- 
tleman's  name  ?  " 

"He  was  the  husband  of  one  of  the  ladies  present,"  replied  Mrs.. 
H. ,  and  then  she  retired  to  her  closet  for  prayer  and  praise. 

At  midnight  she  heard  her  husband's  voice  again :  ' '  Wife,  wife, 
God  heard  those  prayers ;  I  cannot  sleep,  wife.  Will  you  pray  for 
me  ?    Can  the  lyord  show  mercy  to  me,  wife  ? ' ' 

There  was  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  that  night.  When 
the  faithful  pastor  called  the  next  morning,  he  found  Mr.  H. 
' '  praising  and  blessing  God. ' ' 

Blessed  words  of  Jesus :  "  If  two  of  you  shall  agree,  .  .  .  touch- 
ing anj^thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of 
my  Father." 


An  Infidei.  Converted. 

526.  An  infidel  was  induced  to  attend  a  revival  meeting,  but 
purposely  diverted  his  attention  from  what  was  said.  On  their 
return,  his  friends  left  him  in  the  parlor,  while  they  retired  to  their 
rooms  to  pray  for  him.  While  on  their  knees,  praying  for  him, 
they  were  alarmed  by  a  cry  from  the  parlor.  They  found  the  family 
Bible  open  on  the  table,  and  the  young  man  standing  near  with 
marks  of  agony  on  his  face.  He  exclaimed,  ' '  Oh,  I  am  an  infidel ; 
pray  for  me."  Friends  gathered  about  him  to  pray  for  him,  but 
it  was  not  until  he  had  passed  twenty-four  hours  of  the  most  bitter 
distress,  which  seemed  even  to  affedl  his  body,  that  he  was  willing 
to  yield,  and  found  peace. 


Praying  to  Stop  the  Wind. 

527.  A  revival  was  in  progress  in  a  sea-port  town.  A  mother 
went  to  her  pastor  and  asked  him  to  join  her  in  prayer  that  the 
wind  might  change.  He  rather  discouraged  her,  saying  that  it  was 
not  to  be  expecfted  that  God  would  change  the  laws  of  his  universe 
for  them.    But  the  lady  insisted  that  she  would  pray,  since  her 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


215 


unconverted  son  would  go  out  with  the  evening-tide,  on  a  long 
voyage,  unsaved.  If  he  remained  here  but  a  few  days  longer,  so 
powerful  was  the  Spirit's  work  in  the  community,  that  she  was 
sure  he  would  be  saved.  As  the  clergyman  went  to  the  meeting, 
he  noticed  that  the  wind  had  indeed  changed,  and  the  first  person 
he  saw  in  the  church  was  the  young  sailor  for  whom  the  mother 
was  so  anxious.  That  night  he  rose  for  prayers,  and,  when  he 
sailed  away,  the  mother's  prayers  had  been  answered;  he  went  a 
Christian. 


Power  of  a  Mother's  Prayers. 

528.  Rev.  J.  Hyatt  Smith  says,  that  during  the  great  revival 
of  1857,  a  passage  of  Scripture,  in  his  devotional  reading  one  morn- 
ing, struck  him  with  such  force  that  he  seledted  it  as  his  text  for 
the  next  evening  meeting.  But  to  his  surprise  and  great  embar- 
rassment, when  the  evening  came,  the  text  suggested  nothing !  Its 
seeming  appropriateness,  the  train  of  thought  it  had  awakened, 
were  all  gone.  He  wrestled  with  it  through  the  opening  services, 
but  it  would  not  respond,  and  when  the  last  h3min  before  sermon- 
time  was  almost  sung,  he  was  still  at  sea.  With  a  distressed  cry 
of  heart  to  God,  he  opened  the  Bible  at  hap-hazard,  and  saw  the 
words :  ' '  Lo,  here  am  I ;  send  me. ' '  That  decided  him  to  stand  up 
and  let  the  I^ord  supply  him  with  a  message.  He  preached  on 
prayer,  and  dwelt  with  special  earnestness  on  the  power  of  a 
mother's  prayers. 

At  the  close  of  the  sermon,  among  the  inquirers  who  expressed 
anxiety  for  salvation,  a  man  far  back  by  the  door  rose  and  cried 
out :  ' '  Some  of  you  pray  for  me.  My  mother's  prayers  are  bother- 
ing me." 

A  few  days  afterward  that  same  man,  James  Prior,  of  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y. ,  related  his  religious  experience,  and  told  how  he  had 
tried  three  times  that  evening  (when  the  minister  lost  his  text)  to 
go  by  the  church  door,  and  finally  had  to  go  in.  It  turned  out  that 
on  that  very  evening,  in  Rochester,  sixty-eight  miles  away.  Prior's 
mother  had  been  bowing,  in  a  mothers'  meeting,  with  a  burden  of 
soul,  and  crying  to  God  for  her  son. 


A  Returning  Prodigai.. 

529.  A  sailor,  after  long  roving  upon  the  ocean,  gave  his  heart 
to  God,  and  returned  to  his  lonely  mother,  who  for  years  had 
prayed  for  him,  to  tell  her  the  news.  She  was  on  her  death-bed 
when  he  found  her,  but  she  rejoiced  with  exceeding  joy. 


216 


THE  GOSPEI.  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


' '  This  is  like  a  miracle ! ' '  slie  exclaimed. 

"Mother,"  said  the  weeping  son,  "it  was  your  prayers  that 
saved  me.    Thank  God  3-011  did  not  die  till  I  coUld  let  you  know! ' ' 


"My  Mother's  Been  Praying." 

530.  In  February,  1861,  a  terrible  gale  raged  along  the  coast  of 
England.  In  the  Bay  Hartlepoole  it  wrecked  eighty-one  vessels. 
While  the  storm  was  at  its  height,  the  Rising  Sun,  a  stout  brig, 
struck  on  Tongrear  Rock,  a  reef  extending  a  mile  from  one  side  of 
the  bay.  She  sunk,  leaving  only  her  two  topmasts  above  the 
dashing  and  foaming  waves. 

The  life-boats  were  away  rescuing  wrecked  crews.  The  only 
means  of  saving  the  men  clinging  to  the  swaying  masts  was  the 
rocket  apparatus.  Before  it  could  be  adjusted,  one  mast  fell.  Just 
as  the  rocket  bearing  the  life-line  went  booming  out  of  the  mortar, 
the  other  mast  toppled  over. 

Sadly  the  rocket-men  began  to  draw  in  their  line,  when  suddenly 
they  felt  that  something  was  attached  to  it,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
hauled  onto  the  beach  the  apparently  lifeless  body  of  a  sailor-boy. 
Trained  and  tender  hands  worked,  and  in  a  short  time  he  became 
conscious. 

With  amazement  he  gazed  around  on  the  crowd  of  kind,  sympa- 
thizing friends.  He  looked  up  into  the  weather-beaten  face  of  the 
old  fisherman  near  him  and  asked:  — 

' '  Where  am  I  ?  " 

"Thou  art  safe,  my  lad." 

"Where's  the  cap'n  ?  " 

"Drowned,  my  lad." 

' '  The  mate,  then  ? ' ' 

"He's  drowned,  too." 

' '  The  crew  ? " 

"  They  are  all  lost,  my  lad;  thou  art  the  only  one  saved." 

The  boy  stood  overwhelmed  for  a  few  moments ;  then  he  raised 
both  his  hands  and  cried  in  a  loud  voice,  "]My  mother's  been 
praying  for  me!"  and  then  he  dropped  on  his  knees  on  the  wet 
sand,  and  put  his  sobbing  face  in  his  hands. 


"The  Last  of  Keeven  Sons." 

531.  At  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  boys  were  sent 
out  into  the  streets,  with  small  circulars,  inviting  persons  to  a 
young  men's  meeting.    Among  those  who  received  this  invitation 


REVIVAI.  ANE^CDOTKS. 


217 


"-vvas  a  young  man  from  tlie  Bast  who  thought  it  would  be  a  change 
to  attend  such  a  meeting.  Before  its  close  he  arose  and  asked  for 
the  prayers  of  the  Christians.  After  the  meeting,  with  a  friend, 
he  knelt  in  one  corner  of  the  church  and  prayed  for  salvation.  In 
a  few  minutes  he  was  rejoicing  in  the  hope  of  life.  Said  he :  "  My 
mother's  prayer  is  answered.  I  am  the  last  of  eleven  sons  to  ac- 
cept Christ." 


A  Dead  Mother's  Prayers. 

532.  During  a  recent  revival  meeting,  a  man  who  had  been  liv- 
ing rather  a  reckless  life  was  persuaded  by  his  wife  to  attend  the 
services.  He  did  so  simply  to  please  her,  as  he  seemed  to  take  no 
interest  in  the  meeting,  and  its  influences  utterly  failed  to  touch 
him.  In  the  course  of  a  few  days  their  only  child  died,  but  while 
he  grieved  over  the  loss,  no  religious  impression  was  made.  One 
evening  after  a  service  the  pastor  made  an  appeal  to  him  privately, 
but  without  success,  the  man  insisting  that  he  had  not  the  slight- 
est inclination  to  become  a  Christian.  As  they  retired,  the  wife 
asked  her  husband  to  kneel  with  her  at  the  bedside  and  pray,  but  he 
refused.  She  remarked, ' '  You  used  to  pray  with  your  mother  when 
you  were  a  boy."  After  her  prayers  were  over,  the  wife  went  to 
sleep,  but  her  remark  brought  up  memories  of  his  mother  which 
banished  sleep.  The  thoughts  of  her  prayers  so  long  unanswered 
tortured  him.  That  her  last  hours  were  embittered  by  the  thought 
that  he  was  still  a  sinner,  filled  his  soul  with  regret.  Convi(5lion 
seized  upon  him  with  wonderful  power,  and  he  began  to  pray. 
Before  the  day  dawned,  a  mother's  prayers  had  been  answered, 
and  he  had  found  his  mother's  Savior. 


The  Prayers  oe  a  Dead  Mother. 

533*  There  is  a  striking  story  of  a  wealthy  merchant,  a  world- 
ly man,  who  had  lately  purchased  a  lot  in  a  new  cemetery,  and 
wished  to  remove  there  the  remains  of  his  mother,  twenty  years 
dead.  He  superintended  the  transfer  himself,  and  the  occasion 
was  a  most  affecfting  one  for  him.  The  memories  of  his  mother's 
life  came  up  afresh,  and  her  pious  and  faithful  life  revived  before 
him,  after  the  silence  and  absence  of  twenty  years,  in  new  signifi- 
cance and  expression.  He  thought  of  her  prayers  for  him,  and 
every  remembered  incident  and  scene  of  her  affecftionate  care  and 
Christian  duty  had  a  voice  in  it  that  addressed  his  conscience  as 
powerfully  as  it  touched  his  heart.  He  bowed  to  the  blessed  in- 
fluence, and  became  a  follower  of  his  mother's  God  and  Savior. 


218 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  treasury. 


A  Child's  Rebuke. 

534.  At  the  close  of  a  long  prayer  by  a  father  who  had  prayed 
for  a  poor  family,  his  son  said,  * '  Father,  if  I  had  as  much  wheat 
in  the  barn  as  you  have,  I  would  answer  that  prayer  myself." 


"I  Can't  Stop  to  Pray." 

535.  A  deacon  living  in  a  Berkshire  town  was  requested  to 
give  his  pra3^ers  in  behalf  of  a  poor  man,  with  a  large  family,  who 
had  broken  his  leg.  "I  can't  stop  to  pray  now,"  said  the  deacon, 
who  was  picking  and  barreling  his  early  apples  for  the  city  market, 
' '  but  you  can  go  down  into  the  cellar  and  get  some  corned  beef, 
salt-pork,  potatoes,  and  butter, — that's  the  best  I  can  do."  It  was 
the  best  kind  of  a  prayer. 


Prayer  and  Work. 

536*  A  young  missionary  was  lost  in  the  Himalaya  Moun- 
tains. His  brethren  were  out  in  search  of  him.  When  found 
they  are  reported  to  have  said  to  him,  "We  have  been  praying  for 
you  these  two  hours. "  "  Yes, ' '  was  the  reply,  ' '  if  you  had  prayed 
for  me  one  hour  less,  and  had  searched  for  me  one  hour  earlier, 
you  would  have  found  me  sooner. ' '  The  prayer  of  faith  must  be  ac- 
companied by  faithful  work. 


Must  Give  Before  Praying. 

537.  The  venerable  Father  Sewall,  of  Maine,  once  entered  a 
meeting  in  behalf  of  foreign  missions,  just  as  the  colledlors  of  the 
contributions  were  resuming  their  seats.  The  chairman  of  the 
meeting  requested  him  to  lead  in  prayer.  The  old  gentleman  stood, 
hesitatingly,  as  if  he  had  not  heard  the  request.  It  was  repeated 
in  a  louder  voice;  but  there  was  no  response.  It  was  observed, 
however,  that  Mr.  Sewall  was  fumbling  in  his  pockets,  and  present- 
ly he  produced  a  piece  of  money,  which  he  deposited  in  the  contri- 
bution box.  The  chairman,  thinking  he  had  not  been  understood, 
said  loudly,  "  I  didn't  ask  you  to  give,  Father  Sewall;  I  asked  you 
to  pray."  "O,  yes,"  he  replied,  "I  heard  you,  but  I  can't  pray 
till  I  have  given  something. ' ' 


Seemingey  Unanswered  Prayers. 

538.  While  Dr.  Judson  was  laboring  in  India,  he  became  in- 
tensely interested  in  the  conversion  of  the  Jews.    He  not  only 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


21^ 


prayed  very  earnestly  for  their  conversion,  but  raised  a  thousand 
dollars  towards  a  mission  in  Palestine ;  but  the  enterprise  failed, 
and  his  prayers  seemed  unanswered.  IMany  years  afterward  he 
learned  that  a  tracft,  published  in  Germany,  detailing  his  labors,  had 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  some  Jews,  and  had  been  the  cause  of  their 
conversion ;  that  it  had  reached  Trebizond,  where  it  had  been  trans- 
lated by  a  Jew  for  the  benefit  of  the  Jews,  and,  as  a  result,  they  had 
made  a  request  that  a  missionary  should  be  sent  them  from  Con- 
stantinople. This  marvelous  answer  to  his  prayers  both  startled 
and  humbled  Judson. 


A  Prayer  not  Answered. 

539.  A  pious  man  living  in  a  shockingly  wicked  community 
prayed  that  God  would  send  him  a  buyer  for  his  farm,  but  none  ap- 
peared. Just  when  things  were  at  their  worst,  and  the  man  was 
nearly  in  despair,  a  revival  broke  out  which  completely  transform- 
ed the  community,  and  made  it  a  very  desirable  place  in  which  to 
live.  His  prayer  in  one  sense  was  not  answered,  and  yet  in  an- 
other it  was  answered  in  a  grander  and  more  marvelous  way. 


A  Child's  Unanswered  Prayer. 

540.  A  little  boy  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  prayed  three  times  a  day 
for  three  weeks,  that  God  would  put  it  into  somebody's  mind  and 
heart  to  give  him  a  drum.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  went  to  his 
eldest  sister,  who  knew  what  he  had  been  doing  and  expecfting,  and 
said,  "  Hattie,  I  guess  I  won't  pray  any  more  about  that  drum." 
"Why  not,"  she  asked.  "Well,"  said  he,  "  I  don't  think  the  Lord 
w^ants  me  to  have  one.  I  have  been  pra3'ing  three  weeks,  and  he 
don't  send  me  any,  and  I  don't  think  I'll  pray  about  it  any  more, 
for  it  seems  so  m.uch  like  worrying  mother  for  something  she  don't 
want  me  to  have."  He  then  gave  up  the  matter  entirely,  and  thus 
set  an  example  that  many  grown  people  might  profitably  pattern 
after. 


Out  op  His  Peace. 

541.  The  gift  of  spiritual  fullness  is  the  one  to  be  first  and 
always  asked  for. 

An  itinerant  preacher  once,  in  a  fit  of  low  spirits,  wrote  to  John 
Wesley,  requesting  him  to  send  another  man  to  his  circuit,  for  he 
believed  he  was  out  of  his  place.  Wesley  wrote  back :  ' '  Dear 
Brother,  you  are  indeed  out  of  your  place;  for  you  are  reasoning ^ 
when  you  ought  to  be  praying. ' ' 


220 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


' '  Is  God  Dead  ? ' ' 

542.  A  little  girl  one  evening,  wlien  all  was  silent,  looked 
anxiously  into  the  face  of  her  backsliding  father,  who  had  ceased 
to  pray  in  his  family,  and  said  to  him  with  quivering  lips,  "Pa,  is 
God  dead  ?  "  "  No,  my  child, — why  do  you  ask  that  ?  "  '  'Why, 
pa,  3^ou  never  talk  to  him  now  as  you  used  to  do,"  she  replied. 
These  words  haunted  the  father  until  he  was  mercifully  reclaimed. 


"Good-bye,  God." 

543.  A  child,  after  saying  her  usual  prayers,  added:  "Good- 
bye, God;  we  are  all  going  to  Saratoga,  and  pa  and  ma  won't  go 
to  meeting,  or  pray  any  more,  till  we  come  back  again." 


"Big  Enough  to  Quit  Saying  my  Prayers." 

544*  A  little  Shelbyville  boy  who  was  in  the  habit  of  saying 
liis  prayers  before  going  to  bed,  the  other  night  asked  his  mother ; 
"  Mamma,  how  long  will  it  be  before  I'm  big  enough  to  quit  saying 
my  praj^ers  ?  You  never  say  yours,  do  you  ?  "  And  the  mother 
said :  * '  Little  boj^s  should  not  ask  so  many  questions.  Go  to  sleep 
my  child. ' ' 


"No  Leisure  to  Look  up  to  Heaven." 

545*  King  Henry  IV.  asked  the  Duke  of  Alva  if  he  had  ob- 
served the  great  eclipse  of  the  sun,  which  had  lately  happened. 
' '  No, ' '  said  the  Duke ;  "  I  have  so  much  to  do  on  earth  that  I  have 
no  leisure  to  look  up  to  heaven."  This  is  only  too  true  of  many 
professors  of  religion  in  these  days. 


An  UnusuaIv  Noise. 

^46.  One  evening  an  officer  presented  himself  to  General  Jack- 
son, and  complained  that  certain  of  the  soldiers  had  got  together  in 
a  tent,  and  were  making  a  great  noise.  "What  are  they  doing  ?  " 
asked  the  General,  with  some  feeling,  ' '  They  are  praying  now,  but 
they  have  been  singing. "  "  And  is  that  a  crime  ?  "  "  The  articles 
of  war  order  punishment  for  any  unusual  noise."  "God  forjDid, " 
said  the  old  General,  "that  praying  should  be  an  unusual  noise  in 
any  camp." 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTES. 


221 


*'De:  Grass  Grow  on  Your  Path." 

547.  The  earliest  converts  to  Christianity,  in  Africa,  were  very 
earnest  and  regular  in  their  private  devotions.  They  had  no 
closets,  or  rooms  for  retirement,  but  each  had  a  separate  spot  in 
the  thicket  to  which  he  used  to  go.  The  several  paths  to  these 
little  Bethels  became  distindlly  marked ;  and  when  any  one  began 
to  decline  in  the  ways  of  God,  it  was  soon  manifest  to  his  fellows, 
and  they  would  remind  him  of  his  duty,  by  saying,  *'Broder,  de 
grass  grow  on  your  path  yonder. ' ' 


A  RebkIvIvIOus  Prayer. 

548*  ' '  Let  him  become  what  he  will ;  so  he  may  live,  I  shall  be 
satisfied, ' '  was  the  prayer  of  a  father  at  the  bedside  of  his  youth- 
ful and  only  son,  who  seemed  about  to  die.  The  child  recovered. 
Years  passed,  and  that  son  lived  a  life  of  almost  unparalleled  in- 
iquity and  villainy.  He  had  broken  the  sensitive  heart  of  an  affec- 
tionate and  watchful  mother,  and  brought  her  to  a  suicide's  grave. 
He  had  been  tried  for  crime,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  death. 
With  a  careless  air,  the  criminal  asked  his  white-haired  father  if 
he  would  see  him  to  the  tree,  and  then  went  out  with  the  sheriff 
and  was  hung.  ' '  Nevertheless,  not  as  I  will,  but  as  Thou  wilt,"  is 
the  spirit  of  a  true  prayer. 


"It  Must  be  His  Wm." 

549.  Rev.  Mr.  Kilpin,  of  Bxeter,  England,  once  gave  this  tes- 
timony: "I  knew  a  case  in  which  the  minister,  praying  over  a 
a  child  apparently  dying,  said,  '  If  it  be  thy  will,  spare  this  child.' 
The  poor  mother's  soul,  yearning  for  her  beloved,  exclaimed,  '  It 
must  be  his  will !  I  cannot  bear  ifs. '  To  the  surprise  of  many,  the 
child  recovered,  and  the  mother,  after  almost  suffering  martyrdom 
by  him  while  a  stripling,  lived  to  see  him  hanged  before  he  was 
two  and  twenty. ' ' 


Sei/Eish  Prayers. 

550.  A  man  once  complained  to  his  minister,  that  he  had 
prayed  for  a  whole  year  that  he  might  enjoy  the  comforts  of  relig- 
ion, but  found  no  answer  to  his  prayers.  His  minister  replied,  * '  Go 
home  now  and  pray,  '  Father,  glorify  thyself.'  "  Reader,  are  you 
one  of  those  who  find  no  profit  in  calling  upon  God  ?  Ask  yourself 
if  your  prayers  are  not  selfish. 


222 


THE  GOSPEI.  WORKE:r'S  TREASURY. 


A  Se:IvFish  Praye:r. 

551.  A  planter  in  Virginia  once  owned  a  slave  in  connedlion 
with  one  of  his  neighbors.  He  was  a  pious  man,  and  would  some- 
times wind  off  his  prayers  by  saying,  ' '  O  Lord,  in  addition  to 
all  the  blessings  I,  a  sinner,  have  asked  at  thy  hands,  wilt  thou, 
in  thy  infinite  mercy  and  goodness,  condescend  to  bless  my  half 
of  Pomp." 


A  SwEARKR  Reproved. 

552.  The  Rev.  W.  Romaine  was  once  crossing  Blackfriars 
Bridge  when  he  came  up  with  a  man,  w^ho,  in  a  strain  of  fearful 
impiety,  called  upon  God  to  "damn  his  soul  for  Christ's  sake!" 
Mr.  R.,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  said,  "My  friend,  God 
has  done  many  things  for  Christ's  sake,  and  perhaps  he  will  do 
that,  too!''  and  passed  on.  The  reproof,  quite  as  original  as  the 
imprecation  which  called  it  forth,  went  to  the  wretch's  heart,  and 
was  the  occasion  of  turning  him  from  Satan  to  God. 


A  Shocking  Prayer. 

553»  ^  little  boy  heard  a  drunkard  swearing  at  his  horses. 
*  *  Is  that  the  way  you  pray  ? ' '  asked  the  boy.  The  lyord  used  these 
words  to  open  the  eyes  of  that  man,  and  he  became  a  Christian  as 
the  result  of  this  one  question. 


4.  CHRISTIAN  WORK. 


( I . )  CONSECRATION. 


"IW11.1.  Go  FOR  Christ." 

554.  Dr.  Mason,  of  Burmah,  once  wanted  a  teacher  to  visit 
and  labor  among  a  war-like  tribe.  He  asked  his  converted  boat- 
man, Shapon,  if  he  would  go,  and  told  him  that  he  would  only 
have  four  rupees  a  month  as  a  teacher,  whereas  he  was  then  earning 
fifteen  as  a  boatman.    After  praying  over  the  matter,  he  returned 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTES. 


223 


to  the  Dodlor,  and  the  following  conversation  ensued:  "Well, 
Shapon, ' '  said  the  Do(5lor,  ' '  what  have  you  decided  ?  Will  you  go 
for  four  rupees  a  month  ?  "  "  No,  teacher, ' '  replied  Shapon,  ' '  I  will 
not  go  for  four  rupees  a  month ;  but  I  will  go  for  Christ. ' '  And  for 
Christ's  sake  he  did  go. 


No  Shadow  oe  Himsei^e. 

555*  It  is  narrated  of  the  great  sculptor,  Michael  Angelo,  that 
when  at  work,  he  wore  over  his  forehead,  fastened  on  his  artist's 
cap,  a  lighted  candle,  in  order  that  no  shadow  of  himself  might 
fall  upon  his  work !  It  was  a  beautiful  custom,  and  spoke  a  more 
eloquent  lesson  than  he  knew !  For  the  shadows  that  fall  upon 
our  work — how  often  they  fall  from  ourselves! 


Hiding  Behind  Christ. 

556.  A  gentleman  in  Scotland  thought  he  would  try  his  hand 
at  fishing.  Provided  with  the  best  of  tackle,  he  toiled  all  day, 
but  caught  nothing.  Towards  evening  he  spied  a  ragged  little 
urchin,  with  tackle  of  the  most  primitive  order,  land  fish  with 
marvelous  rapidity.  He  went  to  him  and  asked  the  secret  of  his 
success,  receiving  for  reply,  "The  fish' 11  no  catch  sir,  as  lang  as 
ye  dinna  keep  yerself  oot  o'  sight."  Fishers  of  men  need  not 
wonder  at  their  want  of  success  if  they  do  not  keep  themselves 
out  of  sight. 


"FaiIv  for  Christ." 

557.  A  wealthy  lady  of  Canada,  when  she  became  a  Christian, 
felt  that  she  ought  to  recommend  religion  to  others  by  speaking  in 
the  prayer-meeting.  She  feared  that  she  would  break  down,  but 
said  at  length,  "  I  can  at  least  stand  up  and  fail  for  Christ." 


SeIvE-Sacrieice  Brings  Power. 

558.  It  is  told  of  Pousa,  the  Chinese  potter,  that  being  ordered 
to  produce  some  great  work  for  the  emperor,  he  tried  long  to  make 
it,  but  in  vain.  At  length,  driven  to  despair,  he  threw  himself 
into  the  furnace,  and  the  effedl  of  his  self-immolation  on  the  ware 
which  was  then  in  the  fire,  was  such  that  it  came  out  the  most 
beautiful  piece  of  porcelain  ever  known.  So  in  the  Christian  min- 
istry, it  is  self-sacrifice  that  gives  real  excellence  and  glory  to  our 


224 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


work.  Wlien  self  in  us  disappears,  and  only  Christ  is  seen,  then 
will  be  our  highest  success  alike  in  our  own  lives  and  in  the  mov- 
ing of  our  fellow-men. 


Self-Sacrificing  Service. 

559.  A  heathen  king,  who  was  wounded  in  battle,  sent  in  his 
dying  hours  for  his  trusted  servant,  and  said  to  him,  "Go,  tell  the 
dead,  I  come."  The  soldier-servant,  without  hesitating  for  a  mo- 
ment, drew  his  sword  and  stabbed  himself  to  the  heart,  that  he 
might  go  to  the  dead  before  his  master,  and  prepare  them  for  his 
coming.  Oh !  that  we  had  this  spirit  of  service  and  of  sacrifice 
for  the  King  of  kings.  In  his  dying  hour,  he  also  said  to  us,  ' '  Go. 
tell  the  dead,  I  come." 


"The  God  Must  Have  the  Best." 

560.  A  poor  Hindoo  woman  had  a  pair  of  beautiful  twin 
babes.  The  mother  loved  her  little  ones,  but  her  joy  over  them 
was  mingled  with  pain.  One  of  them  was  a  girl  and  blind.  To 
her  dark  heathen  mind  there  could  be  but  one  reason  for  this  mark 
upon  her  offspring ;  her  deity,  the  goddess  Gunga,  was  angry  with 
her  for  some  sin  she  had  committed.  "I  must  make  a  sacrifice," 
she  said,  in  bitter  sorrow,  to  a  missionary  lady  who  called  upon 
her;  "the  goddess  must  be  appeased,  cost  what  it  may." 

When  she  called  again,  she  found  the  mother  weeping  over  the 
basket  cradle  in  which  lay  only  a  single  child.  It  was  the  blind 
girl.  The  wretched  woman  had  thrown  the  other  babe  into  the 
Ganges.  Recovering  from  her  horror  sufiiciently  to  speak,  the 
Christian  lady  could  not  help  asking  why,  if  she  must  sacrifice  a 
child,  she  had  not  chosen  the  one  that  was  the  occasion  of  her 
sorrow.  "Oh,"  sobbed  the  benighted  mother,  "that  was  the  bit- 
terest of  all.  I  could  not  offer  the  girl,  the  blind  one,  when  I  had 
a  boy,  a  perfedl  child.  That  would  have  made  Gunga  only  more 
angry.  The  god  mu.st  always  have  the  best."  While  our  God 
does  not  require  sacrifices  in  the  same  form,  he  does  require  at  our 
hands  the  best  we  have. 


An  Old  Woman's  Railway  Signal. 

One  wild  spring  night  the  falling  rains,  reinforced  by 
the  melting  snows  and  ice  from  the  mountains,  produced  a  flood 
that,  rushing  down  a  gorge  in  the  West  Virginia  mountains,  tore 
down  a  railroad  bridge  that  spanned  its  dangerous  depths.  By 
the  side  of  the  bridge,  in  a  poor  cottage,  lived  a  lone  widow  and  her 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


225 


daughter.  What  should  she  do  to  warn  the  approaching  train,  due 
in  half  an  hour  ?  She  gathered  her  scanty  furniture  in  a  pile  on 
the  track  and  set  it  on  fire.  She  tore  from  her  person  her  red 
woolen  gown,  and,  tying  it  to  a  vStick,  ran  up  the  line,  waving  it 
with  both  hands,  while  the  daughter  swung  around  her  head  a 
blazing  brand  a  little  way  before  her.  The  engine  came  around 
the  curve  at  full  speed,  but  as  the  watchful  engineer  saw  the  fire 
and  the  waving  flag  and  brand,  he  reversed  the  engine  and  whistled 
"down  brakes."  At  the  very  edge  of  the  gorge,  the  train  stood 
still,  its  passengers  saved  by  the  old  woman  who  had  sacrificed 
her  all.  If  she  could  do  so  much  to  save  the  lives  of  these  passen- 
gers, what  ought  we  be  willing  to  sacrifice  for  the  salvation  of  the 
souls  of  men  ? 


How  TO  Move  the  Wheels. 

562.  I  heard  Dr.  John  Scudder  use  a  good  missionary  illustra- 
tion lately,  which  I  wish  to  relate  to  the  children.  On  his  return 
from  India  he  made  a  short  stay  in  London.  While  there  he  went 
one  day  with  his  family  to  visit  the  Crystal  Palace.  That  was  the 
building  where  the  first  "world's  fair"  was  held;  and  it  has  been 
kept  up  as  a  kind  of  perpetual  fair  ever  since.  Among  the  curious 
things  which  pleased  the  children  very  much  was  a  great  colle(5lion 
of  toys.  One  set  consisted  of  an  old  woman  with  a  wash-tub,  a 
wind-mill  with  its  sails  all  set  for  work,  a  mason  with  his  trowel, 
a  big  rooster  with  his  wings  just  ready  to  flap  and  his  throat  to 
crow,  and  several  other  similar  pieces.  ' '  Wouldn't  it  be  fun,"  said 
one  of  the  missionary '  s  little  folks, ' '  to  see  all  these  things  move  ? ' ' 
Now,  the  children  might  have  stood  about  there  forever,  wishing, 
hoping,  and  even  praying  for  that  end,  but  it  would  have  done  no 
good.  But  just  drop  a  penny  into  a  little  slip  left  for  it,  and  behold ! 
the  mason  begins  to  work,  the  wind-mill  to  turn,  the  old  woman  to 
rub  her  clothes,  and  the  rooster  to  crow.  The  money  started  the 
whole  machinery.  So,  Mr.  Scudder  said,  it  was  with  mission  work. 
The  Church  has  been  praying  a  great  while  for  the  Lord  to  "  open 
the  way  ' '  for  his  gospel.  He  had  opened  it  so  wide  that  his  labor- 
ers did  not  know  what  to  do.  They  could  not  occupy  a  tenth  of 
the  ground.  The  Church  now  needed  to  drop  in  the  money  if  they 
would  see  the  works  move. 


"Occupy  till  I  Come." 

563.  About  a  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  in  America  a  day 
of  such  unaccountable  darkness  that  it  was  supposed  by  many 
that  the  last  day  had  come.  The  legislature  of  Connecticut  was 
in  session,  and  its  members  shared  in  the  general  awe  and  terror. 

15 


226 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


In  the  consternation  of  the  hour  some  one  moved  an  adjournment. 
An  old  Puritan  then  arose,  and  said  that  if  the  last  day  had  come, 
he  desired  to  be  found  at  his  post,  doing  his  duty,  and  therefore 
moved  that  the  candles  be  brought  in,  so  that  the  house  could 
proceed  with  its  business. 


"Always  Ready." 

564.  During  the  war  in  Burmah  a  sudden  approach  of  the  ene- 
my made  it  necessary  to  strengthen  a  certain  position,  and  the  com- 
mander-in-chief sent  orders  for  a  particular  corps  to  occupy  the 
post  at  once ;  but  the  orderly  returned,  saying  that  so  many  of  the 
men  were  intoxicated  that  the  force  was  unfit  for  duty,  Campbell 
was  enraged ;  but  something  must  be  done  immediately,  and  it  did 
not  take  a  man  like  him  very  long  to  decide  what  to  do.  ' '  Call  out 
Havelock' s  saints ! ' '  cried  the  old  general.  '  *  They  never  get  drunk, 
and  Havelock  is  always  ready. ' ' 


No  Retreat. 

565.  It  is  said  that  at  the  battle  of  Alma,  when  one  of  the 
regiments  was  being  beaten  back  by  the  Russians,  the  ensign  in 
front  stood  his  ground,  as  the  troops  retreated.  The  captain  shout- 
ed to  him  to  bring  back  the  colors.  But  the  reply  of  the  ensign 
was,  * '  Bring  up  the  men  to  the  colors!''  The  dignity  of  Immanuel's 
ministry  can  never  be  lowered  to  meet  our  littleness.  The  men 
must  come  up  to  the  colors. 


"To  Fight  and  not  to  Run." 

566.  A  good  story  is  told  of  one  of  the  soldiers  of  Alexander 
the  Great,  who  chanced  to  be  exceedingly  lame,  one  of  his  legs 
being  shorter  than  the  other.  He  had  enlisted  as  a  foot  soldier, 
and  upon  being  asked  why  he  had  not  (considering  his  lameness) 
enlisted  in  the  cavalry,  he  simply  replied,  ' '  I  am  going  to  fight, 
and  not  to  run.'''' 

This  came  to  Alexander's  ears ;  and  before  that  year's  campaign 
was  ended  the  lame  soldier  was  not  only  mounted,  but  was  one  of 
the  conqueror's  most  trusted  aides. 


lyOVE  Never  Retreats. 

567.  A  little  English  drummer  boy  was  brought  prisoner  be- 
fore Napoleon.    The  emperor  told  him  to  sound  the  retreat.  "I 


REvivAi/  anecdote;s. 


227 


never  learned  it/'  was  the  prompt  reply.  Love  never  retreats. 
Love  is  ever  accompanied  by  faith  and  hope,  and  in  their  com- 
pany it  always  dares  to  pursue  its  course,  however  the  odds  may 
appear  against  it. 


Fighting  in  Any  Position. 

568.  Marshal  Lannes,  Duke  of  Montebello,  when  he  was  a 
general  of  a  brigade,  entailed  the  censure  of  the  great  Napoleon, 
although  the  latter  admired  him  for  his  bravery.  The  emperor, 
in  one  of  his  characfleristic  fits  of  passion,  deprived  him  of  his 
command,  telling  him  he  should  never  again  draw  a  sword  in  the 
service  of  France. 

Some  months  after,  and  while  reviewing  his  troops,  Napoleon 
saw  a  private  in  the  ranks  whose  appearance  was  strikingly  like 
that  of  the  degraded  general.  The  emperor  advanced  towards  him, 
and  at  once  recognized  in  the  humble  soldier  his  formerly  distin- 
guished brigadier. 

"Lannes,"  said  Napoleon,  *'  I  thought  I  ordered  that  you  should 
never  again  draw  a  sword  in  the  French  service. ' ' 

* '  You  did,  sire, ' '  replied  the  private ;  * '  but  you  can't  prevent  me 
from  fighting  for  my  country  with  a  musket. ' ' 

Napoleon  acknowledged  the  true  nobility  of  the  man,  and  im- 
mediately restored  him  to  his  command. 


"Just  as  the:  Captain  Says." 

569.  During  a  railroad  strike  there  was  great  danger  of  mob 
T'iolence,  and  the  general  public  was  almost  panic-stricken. 
Twenty  thousand  workmen  filled  the  streets,  and  an  outbreak  was 
imminent  at  any  moment.  But  suddenly  a  cheer  made  the  veiy 
earth  tremble.  A  little  company  of  wearied,  dirty  men  that  wore 
a  blue  uniform,  with  a  belt  around  the  waist,  and  a  musket  over 
the  shoulder,  came  along  with  a  tramp,  tramp  that  meant  business, 
as  some  of  the  boys  said ;  and  the  whole  community  breathed  more 
freely  at  the  sight  of  less  than  a  hundred  men.  The  secret  is  found 
in  one  single  word  —  organization;  and  discipline.  One  friend 
from  the  Green  Isle  stepped  up  to  a  brother  Irishman  whom  he  saw 
with  the  uniform  and  said,  * '  Now  look  here ;  you  wouldn't  be  after 
shootin'  a  fellow,  would  you?"  The  man  turned  round  and 
said^  *'  It's  just  as  the  captain  says."  What  we  need  in  this  work 
is  a  company  of  men  that  fear  nothing  but  sin,  and  are  ready  to 
•do  just  what  the  Captain  says. 


228 


I 

THE  GOSPEL  WORKER  S  TREASURY. 


Working  Without  Encouragement. 

570.  In  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  when  the  grand  old  Nelson 
sent  his  flag  away  tip  to  the  mast-head  and  shouted,  ' '  England 
expe(5ls  every  man  to  do  his  duty,"  there  were  two  Scotchmen 
below  decks  that  heard  this.  "Donald,"  says  one  to  the  other, 
"there's  na'  ward  about  the  puir  Scotchman."  "Toot  mon,  a 
Scotchman  can  do  his  duty  without  being  told  aboot  it." 


Our  Wounded  Captain. 

571.  The  Highland  chief,  McGregor,  fell  wounded  by  two 
balls.  Seeing  their  leader  fall,  the  clan  wavered  and  gave  their 
enemy  an  advantage.  The  chieftain,  beholding  the  effecfts  of  the 
disaster,  raised  himself  upon  his  elbow,  and  while  the  blood  was 
gushing  in  streams  from  his  wounds,  he  cried,  "I  am  not  dead,  ni}'- 
children;  I  am  looking  to  see  you  do  your  duty."  These  words 
revived  the  sinking  courage  of  his  clan.  The  Captain  of  our  sal- 
vation, though  slain,  yet  lives  to  look  upon  us  and  to  see  us  do 
our  duty. 


Desirable  Eccentricity. 

572.  If  Professor  John  Stuart  Blackie  is  an  "  eccentric ' '  per- 
son, it  is  a  pity  that  some  of  his  eccentricities  are  not  to  be  met 
with  a  little  more  commonly  in  others,  who  get  credit  for  adling 
more  wisely  than  he.  When  he  gave  up  his  chair  of  Greek  in  the 
University  of  Edinburgh,  Professor  Blackie  resolved  to  devote 
himself  to  work  in  behalf  of  the  Highland  crofters,  or  lower  class 
of  peasants.  To  that  he  is  now  giving  his  whole  energy.  ' '  Eet 
Greek  die,"  he  said  recently;  "let  Hebrew  die;  let  learning  go  to 
the  dogs ;  but  let  human  beings  live,  and  let  human  brotherhood 
and  charity  live. ' '  This  is  a  good  spirit,  for  a  scholar,  in  which  to 
engage  in  prad;ical  work. 


Longing  eor  Discharge. 

573*  Whitefield  was  much  attached  to  his  friend  Mr.  William 
Tennent.  It  was  from  him  he  received  the  well-known  reproof 
against  impatience  for  heaven.  They  were  dining  with  Governor 
Livingston  one  day,  and  Whitefield,  being  much  exhausted  by 
severe  labor,  expressed  a  hope  that  he  should  soon  enter  into  his 
rest.    He  appealed  to  Tennent,  if  that  was  not  his  comfort.  Ten- 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


229 


nent  replied,  "What  do  you  think  I  should  say,  if  I  were  to  send 
my  servant  into  the  field  to  plough,  and  at  noon  should  find  him 
lounging  under  a  tree,  complaining  of  the  heat  and  begging  to  be 
discharged  from  his  hard  service  ?  I  should  say  he  was  an  idle, 
lazy  fellow,  and  that  his  business  was  to  do  the  work  I  had  ap- 
pointed him." 


Balky  Christians. 

574.  That  balky  horse  that  delayed  forty  or  fifty  cars  on  a  city 
horse  railway  the  other  day,  was  a  great  success  as  a  hindrance, 
and  yet  at  his  proper  proper  work  of  pulling  he  had  not  strength 
enough  to  draw  a  single  car.  What  a  good  illustration  of  the 
hindering  power  of  a  balky  teacher !  His  power  to  advance  the 
-school  by  direc^t  effort  may  be  very  small,  but  his  ability  to  hinder 
the  progress  of  others  may  be  very  great.  The  best  thing  to  do 
with  the  balky  worker  in  any  department  of  Christian  acflivity  is 
to  put  a  good  substitute  in  his  place, —  and  the  sooner  the  better. 


Nominal  Soldiers. 

575.  A  soldier  who  went  to  war,  took  with  him  some  of  the 
•small  instruments  of  his  craft, — he  was  a  watch-tinker, — thinking 
to  make  some  extra  shillings,  now  and  then,  while  in  camp.  He 
did  so.  He  found  plenty  of  puttering,  and  almost  forgot  that  he 
was  a  soldier ;  so  that  one  day,  when  ordered  off  on  some  duty, 
lie  exclaimed:  "Why,  how  can  I  go?  I've  got  ten  watches  to 
mend!"  Some  Christians  are  so  absorbed  in  self-seeking  that 
they  are  ready  to  say  to  the  Master's  call,  "I  pray  thee  have  me 
excused ! ' '  They  are  nominally  soldiers  of  Christ,  but  really  only 
watch-tinkers — they  keep  back  part  of  the  price. 


"Odd  Job  Christian." 

576.  That  was  a  suggestive  answer  of  the  little  boy  who, 
when  asked  if  his  father  was  a  Christian,  replied  that  he  was,  but 
that  he  did  not  work  at  it  much  at  present.  A  remark  in  similar 
style,  but  of  more  hopeful  significance,  was  lately  made  by  a  work- 
ingman  at  a  religious  meeting  in  Iviverpool.  He  said,  "I  used 
to  be  an  'odd  job  Christian,'  but  now  I  am  working  full  time." 
Christianity  is  a  life,  not  a  trade. 


230 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


(2.)  ZEAL. 


"If  I  HAD  TO  Swim." 

577,  A  New  Zealand  girl  was  brought  over  to  England  to  be 
educated.  She  became  a  true  Christian.  When  she  was  about  to- 
return,  some  of  her  playmates  endeavored  to  dissuade  her. 

They  sa  id :  ' '  Why  do  3'ou  go  back  to  New  Zealand  ?  You  are 
accustomed  to  England  now.  You  love  its  shad}^  lanes  and  clover 
fields.  It  suits  your  health.  Besides,  yon  may  be  shipwrecked 
on  the  ocean.  You  may  be  killed  and  eaten  by  your  own  people. 
Evers-^bodj^  will  have  forgotten  you. ' ' 

"  What]"  she  said,  "do  3^ou  think  I  could  keep  the  good  news 
to  myself?  Do  3^ou  think  that  I  could  be  content  with  having  got 
pardon,  and  peace,  and  eternal  life  for  myself,  and  not  go  and  tell 
my  dear  father  and  mother  how  the}^  can  get  it,  too  ?  I  would  go- 
if  I  had  to  swim  there ! ' ' 


"Oh,  That  I  Had  a  Bigger  Boat!" 

578.  Who  that  has  felt  a  measure  of  Jesus'  compassion  has 
not  at  times  wivShed  for  an  equal  measure  of  Jesus'  power  ? 

That  was  a  grand  and  heroic  speech  of  the  Becton  boatman,  who 
was  the  first  to  launch  forth  on  the  darkening  waters  of  the 
Thames  at  the  cry  of  hundreds  of  drowning  vicftims  of  the  Princess- 
Alice  steamboat. 

This  good  man  found  a  copious  harvest  of  human  lives,  easily 
gathered  in  a  moment  to  the  full  of  the  small  capacit}^  of  the  boat ; 
and  seeing  how  he  had  gathered  all  he  could  accommodate,  and 
hundreds  still  struggling — and  the  vast  majority  of  them  strug- 
gling in  vain — with  the  waters,  he  exclaimed:  — 

"Oh,  that  I  had  a  bigger  boat !  —  I  could  save  so  many  more!'* 


"I  Kindle  Quick." 

579.  ' '  I  am  not  alwa3^s  glowing  with  zeal,  but  I  kindle  quick, ' ^ 
said  a  noble  young  minister,  who  was  about  to  die,  to  a  friend 
and  brother  standing  at  his  bedside. 


"Somebody  has  Got  to  Let  the  People  Know." 

580.  A  man  was  going  to  his  work  one  morning,  when  he 
was  told  that  the  river  had  burst  its  banks,  and  was  sweeping: 


RKvivAiv  anecdote:s.  231 

down  through  the  valley,  carrying-  death  and  destnidlion.  His 
informant  did  not  seem  much  concerned  about  the  matter,  but  the 
brave  workman  immediately  rushed  off  down  the  lower  part  of 
the  valley,  shouting,  "If  that's  so,  somebody  has  got  to  let  the 
people  know. ' '  By  his  timely  warning  he  saved  the  lives  of  many 
people. 


Christians'  Duty  to  Sinne;rs. 

58X.  Rev.  G,  M.  Mathews  uses  the  following  illustration  with 
most  excellent  results,  A  foreigner,  excavating  a  well,  in  the  city 
of  Dayton,  had  descended  forty  feet,  when  the  curbing  gave  way 
and  entombed  him,  earth  surrounding  him  to  the  shoulders.  Re- 
peated efforts  were  made  to  get  down  to  him,  but  every  hour  he 
was  wedged  in  more  tightly  by  falling  earth  and  stone.  For- 
tunately the  timber  had  so  fallen  as  to  protect  him  to  some  ex- 
tent. A  small  aperture  was  also  left  for  air  and  for  conversation 
with  his  rescuers,  so  that  he  could  make  his  wants  known.  After 
ceaseless  efforts  for  part  of  a  day  and  a  night,  and  after  his  friends 
had  almost  reached  the  sufferer,  water  began  to  enter  the  well,  and 
all  hope  seemed  gone.  Over  fifteen  hundred  persons  visited  the 
spot,  manifesting  the  most  intense  interest.  After  twenty  hours 
of  tireless  effort,  the  poor  benumbed  foreigner  was  rescued,  amid 
great  rejoicing  and  the  wildest  demonstration. 

We  all  commend  this  effort  to  rescue  a  fellow-man.  It  was 
human,  manly,  benevolent;  it  was  a  duty.  But  multitudes  of 
our  fellow-men  are  entombed  in  sin.  They  are  reckless  and  im- 
prudent; they  are  helpless,  unable  to  overcome  the  environments 
of  their  society  and  evil  life.  It  requires  more  persistent  effort 
and  constant  sympathy  to  reach  and  rescue  them  than  most  Chris- 
tians seem  to  manifest  or  believe  necessary.  What  Christ-like 
zeal  we  should  exhibit  for  the  salvation  of  these  souls. 


A  Lesson  for  Weak  Christians. 

582.  When  the  foot-sore  regiments  of  the  Union  army  neared 
Gettysburg,  and  the  sound  of  battle  reached  them,  among  those 
who  grasped  their  arms  to  hurry  to  the  front  was  one  poor  fellow 
who  hobbled  out  of  an  ambulance,  and  vShouldering  his  musket, 
was  staggering  forward,  when  the  surgeon  cried,  "Where  are  you 
going,  sir  ? ' '  The  brave  fellow,  trying  hard  to  stand  eredt,  said, 
"To  the  front!"  "What!  a  man  in  your  condition  ?  You  can't 
march  half  a  mile.  You  have  every  symptom  of  typhoid  fever; 
a  little  overexertion  will  kill  you!"  "Well,  do(?i;or,"  he  said, 
"  if  I  must  die,  I  had  rather  die  in  the  field  than  in  an  ambulance." 


232 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


' '  I  May  be  Dead.  ' ' 

583.  A  missionary  in  the  West  Indies  having  called  on  the 
people  for  a  little  help  in  spreading  the  gospel,  a  negro  came  for- 
ward, and  putting  his  hand  in  one  pocket,  pulled  out  some  silver, 
sa3-ing,  ' '  That  for  me,  massa ' ' ;  and  another  parcel  from  another 
pocket,  "That's  for  m^- wife,  massa,"  and  another  still, — in  all 
upwards  of  twelve  dollars, — ' '  That's  for  m3"  child,  massa. ' '  When 
asked  if  he  were  not  giving  too  much,  he  said,  "  God's  work  must 
be  done,  massa,  and  I  ma}'  be  dead."  Let  us  do  and  let  us  give 
what  we  can.    ' '  God's  work  must  be  done,  and  we  may  be  dead. ' ' 


"If  it  Were  My  Son." 

584.  It  is  related,  that  after  an  address  of  Horace  Mann,  in 
the  State  of  ^Massachusetts,  in  which  he  stated  that  if  all  the 
money  that  had  been  expended  in  the  magnificent  buildings  oc- 
cupied as  a  reformators'  institution  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts 
succeeded  in  saving  one  boy,  the  mone}'  was  well  laid  out,  when 
the}-  passed  out  of  the  building,  a  gentleman  turned  round  to  his 
friend,  who  was  silent,  and  said,  "Do  3^ou  believe  that  statement 
of  Mr.  jMann's  ?"  And  the  man,  who  must  have  been  a  father, 
tightened  his  grasp  upon  his  arm,  and  said,  "Yes,  if  it  were  my 
son." 


"Your  Brother  is  Down  There." 

585.  In  the  east  of  London,  the}-  were  digging  a  deep  drain 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Victoria  Park.  Some  of  the  shoring  gave 
way,  and  tons  of  earth  fell  down  upon  several  men  who  were  there 
at  work.  Of  course  there  was  a  good  deal  of  excitement;  and 
standing  by  the  brink  was  a  man  looking  on  —  I  grant  you,  with 
great  earnestness — on  those  who  were  attempting  to  dig  out  the 
earth.  But  a  woman  came  up  to  him,  put  her  hand  on  his  shoul- 
der and  said,  ' '  Bill,  your  brother  is  down  there. ' '  Oh,  you  should 
have  seen  the  sudden  change!  Off  went  his  coat,  and  then  he 
sprang  into  the  trench,  and  worked  as  if  he  had  the  strength  of 
ten  men. 


Sufficient  Responsibility. 

586.  John  Brown,  of  Haddington,  said  to  a  young  minister 
who  complained  of  the  smallness  of  his  congregation,  "  It  is  as 


RKVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


233 


large  a  one  as  you  will  want  to  give  an  account  for  in  the  Day  of 
Judgment."  The  admonition  is  appropriate  not  to  ministers 
alone,  but  to  all  teachers. 


''Painting  for  Eternity." 

587.  When  Apelles,  the  Greek  painter,  was  asked  why  he 
bestowed  so  much  labor  upon  his  pictures,  he  replied,  ''Because 
I  am  painting  for  eternity."  He  used  the  word  as  a  bold  figure 
of  speech ;  but  we  may  use  the  word  literally  when  we  say  that 
w^e  are  painting  the  picfture  of  our  lives  for  eternity. 


Saving  the  Soui.. 

588.  The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  once  introduced  Dr.  Jenner,  the 
discoverer  of  vaccination,  to  a  nobleman,  in  these  terms :  ' '  Allow 
me  to  present  to  your  lordship  my  friend.  Dr.  Jenner,  who  has 
lately  been  the  means  of  saving  more  lives  than  any  other  man." 
Dr.  Jenner  bowed,  and  said  with  great  earnestness,  "  Ah!  would, 
like  you,  I  could  say  souls!'' 


The  Divine  Seal. 

589.  When  some  one  took  occasion,  in  conversation  with  Dr. 
Wayland,  to  criticise  a  certain  Christian  worker's  methods,  and  to 
question  his  orthodoxy  and  his  "call,"  the  Doctor  stopped  him 
by  bluntly  asking,  ' '  Can  he  cast  out  devils  'i ' '  That  was  all  the 
great  man  wanted  to  know. 


Wandering  from  the  Subject. 

590*  Bramwell  was  a  plain  preacher  in  the  States,  and  to  some 
extent  an  uncultivated  preacher;  but  he  was  full  of  faith  and  zeal, 
and  his  ministry  was  attended  with  marvelous  power.  He  was 
preaching  in  a  little  village  on  one  occasion,  and  the  German  min- 
ister, Trubner,  was  induced  to  go  to  hear  him.  Trubner  was  a 
very  cultivated  scholar,  and  a  profound  critic ;  and  when  some  of 
Bramwell's  friends  saw  him  there  they  said,  "Alas!  alas!  for  poor 
Bramwell ;  how  Trubner  wdll  criticise  him ! ' '  Very  little  did  Bram- 
well care  for  him,  or  for  all  the  philosophers  under  the  sun.  He 
preached,  and  set  before  his  audience  the  everlasting  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ,  and  when  Trubner  went  out  of  the  church  one  of  his 


234 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


friends  said  to  him :  ' '  How  do  3-011  like  him  ?  Don't  yon  think  he 
wanders  a  good  deal  in  his  preaching  ?  "  *'  O,  3-es,"  sa3's  the  old 
Lutheran,  "  he  do  wander  most  delightfully  from  de  subject  to  de 
heart. ' ' 


Better  than  Logic. 

591.  A  clerg3^man  spent  a  whole  week  preparing  a  sermon 
with  special  reference  to  one  of  his  hearers,  an  infidel  lawj-er,  who, 
from  habit  and  traditional  respedl,  regularl}^  attended  church,  and 
had  for  some  time  sat  under  his  ministr3^ 

Sunda\-  came,  and  with  it  a  cold,  ic}-  storm,  but  Judge  Le^^man. 
sat  in  his  accustomed  place.  Not  a  word  of  the  sermon  escaped 
him.  After  the  benediction  he  walked  quieth'  down  the  aisle.  On 
the  ic\"  steps  stood  an  old  colored  woman,  lame  and  poor.  As  she 
attempted  to  go  down,  she  slipped,  and  would  have  fallen,  but  the 
Judge,  with  the  dignified  courtes3^  that  alwa3-s  distinguished  him, 
assisted  her  till  she  had  gained  the  sidewalk.  Turning,  as  he  sup- 
posed, to  thank  him,  the  old  woman  peered  into  his  face  with  the 
inquir3^,  "Do  you  love  Jesus?"  Receiving  no  answer  for  an  in- 
stant, she  repeated,  * '  Do  you  love  Jesus  ? ' '  and  then  hobbled 
awa3' . 

The  law3' er  went  home,  but  the  words  followed  him.  He  tried 
to  read,  but  could  not  escape  the  trembling,  pleading  tone.  He 
fought  the  impression  till  evening,  and  then  sought  the  pastor's 
stud3-  to  ask  guidance  and  help. 

Some  weeks  later,  after  he  had  found  peace  and  united  himself 
with  the  people  of  God,  the  minister  said  to  him  one  da3^:  "  Do 
3-0U  know  that  I  expected  3^ou  that  stormy  evening  when  3-ou  first 
came  to  me  to  inquire  concerning  the  wa3"  to  eternal  life  ?  I  had 
prepared  m3^  sermon  that  day  especiall3"  for  3'ou,  and  I  thought  it 
would  bring  3-ou  to  convidlion." 

"That  sermon!"  replied  the  Judge;  "wh3',  I  could  have  an- 
swered all  3^our  arguments,  and  it  did  not  move  me  in  the  least. 
It  was  what  the  old  negro  woman  said,  '  Do  3-ou  love  Jesus  ? '  that 
I  could  not  get  away  from.  It  seemed  to  me  as  if  I  should  hear 
that  voice  following  me  as  long  as  I  lived." 


The  jNIinister's  Business. 

592.  A  Scottish  minister  was  riding  on  horseback,  one  stormy 
day,  enveloped  in  a  loose  cloak  of  large  proportions,  and  having  a 
broad,  scarlet  neck.  By  the  strong  action  of  the  wind  the  cloak 
was  tossed  about  in  all  directions,  when  an  English  gentleman 


re:vivai.  anecdotes. 


235- 


rode  up  on  a  spirited  charger.  The  gentleman's  horse  shied,  and 
almost  threw  the  rider,  ' '  That  cloak  of  yours  would  frighten  the 
Devil!"  said  the  Englishman.  "Man,"  replied  the  minister, 
"that's  just  my  beeziness." 


Indifferent  Warning. 

593»  A  traveler  one  dark  night  was  journeying  toward  a  deep, 
rapid  river,  crossed  by  a  bridge,  which  had  been  swept  away,  but 
he  knew  it  not.  A  man  met  him,  and,  with  a  careless  air,  asked, 
* '  Are  you  aware  the  bridge  is  gone  ?  "  "  No ;  do  you  think  it  is 
so?"  "  O,  I  heard  so,"  said  the  man  in  the  same  indifferent 
manner ;  *  *  you  had  better  not  go  on. "  Deceived  by  his  hesitation 
and  careless  way,  the  traveler  proceeded.  Soon  another  man  met 
him,  and  called  out  in  alarm,  "Sir,  the  bridge  is  gone!"  "O, 
yes,"  replied  the  traveler,  "  I  heard  that  story,  but  do  not  believe 
it,  as  it  was  told  in  a  careless  tone. "  "  But  it  is  gone,  for  I  barely 
escaped  being  carried  away  with  it  myself."  The  traveler  was 
convinced,  and,  turning  about,  saved  his  life.  So  the  danger  to 
men's  souls  may  be  pointed  out  with  such  a  careless  and  indiffer- 
ent air  that  they  may  not  realize  it.  Or  they  may  be  warned  with 
so  much  of  earnestness  as  to  arrest  and  turn  them  from  the  sinful 
road  to  the  path  of  safety. 


Harpoons  on  Board. 

594.  A  sailor  just  off  a  whaling  expedition  asked  where  he 
could  hear  good  preaching.  On  his  return  from  church  his  friend 
said  to  him,  ' '  You  do  not  seem  to  have  liked  the  sermon. "  '  •  Not 
much ;  it  was  like  a  ship  leaving  for  the  whale-fishing — everything 
ship-shape,  anchors,  cordage,  sails,  all  right — but  there  were  no 
harpoons  on  board.'" 


Brilliant  Preaching. 

595«  Sir  Astley  Cooper,  on  visiting  Paris,  was  asked  by  the 
surgeon-in-chief  of  the  empire  how  many  times  he  had  performed 
a  certain  wonderful  feat  of  surgery.  He  replied  that  he  had  per- 
formed the  operation  thirteen  times.  "Ah,  but,  monsieur,  I  have 
done  him  one  hundred  and  sixty  times.  How  many  times  did 
you  save  his  life  ? ' '  continued  the  curious  Frenchman,  after  he  had 
looked  into  the  blank  amazement  of  Sir  Astley's  face.  "I,"  said 
the  Englishman,  ' '  saved  eleven  out  of  the  thirteen.  How  many 
did  you  save  out  of  one  hundred  and  sixty "    "  Ah,  monsieur,  I 


236 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


lose  them  all ;  but  de  operation  was  ver}-  brilliant. ' '  Of  how  many- 
popular  ministries  might  the  same  verdict  be  given. 


A  Zealous  Convert. 

596.  I  once  knew  a  young  man  who  was  converted  away  from 
home.  The  place  where  he  lived  had  no  minister,  no  preaching, 
and  no  religion.  He  went  home  in  three  days  after  he  was  con- 
verted, and  immediateh'  set  himself  to  work  for  a  revival.  He  be- 
gan meetings  in  the  neighborhood,  and  prayed  and  labored,  and  a 
revival  broke  out,  of  which  he  had  the  chief  management,  result- 
ing in  a  powerful  work  which  converted  most  of  the  principal  men 
of  the  place. 


An  Enthusiast. 

597.  Rowland  Hill,  a  man  of  powerful  voice,  was  sometimes 
completely  carried  away  by  the  impetuous  rush  of  his  feelings. 
On  one  such  occasion,  while  preaching  at  Wotton,  he  exclaimed: 
"Because  I  am  in  earnest,  men  call  me  enthusiast.  But  I  am  not; 
mine  are  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness.  When  I  first  came 
into  this  part  of  the  country,  I  was  working  on  yonder  hill.  I  saw 
a  gravel-pit  fall  in  and  hnry  three  human  beings  alive.  I  lifted  up 
my  voice  for  help  so  loud  that  I  was  heard  in  the  town  below,  at 
the  distance  of  a  mile.  Help  came  and  rescued  the  poor  sufferers. 
No  one  called  me  an  enthusiast  then.  And  when  I  see  eternal 
destru(5tion  ready  to  fall  upon  poor  sinners,  and  I  call  aloud  to 
them  to  escape,  shall  I  be  called  an  enthusiast  now  ? ' ' 


More  Earnestness  Needed. 

598.  "Brother,"  said  a  dying  man,  "why  have  3'ou  not  been 
more  pressing  with  me  about  my  soul  ?  "  "Dear  James, ' '  said  the 
brother,  "  I  have  spoken  to  you  several  times."  "  Yes,"  was  the 
answer,  '  *  you  are  not  to  blame,  but  you  were  alwaj^s  so  quiet  over 
it ;  i  wish  you  had  gone  on  your  knees  to  me,  or  had  taken  me  by 
the  neck  and  shaken  me,  for  I  have  been  careless,  and  have  nearly 
slept  myself  into  hell." 

Shallow  Desires. 

599.  A  pastor  once  wept  because  he  could  have  no  revival. 
The  next  Sabbath  he  preached  a  faithful,  feeling  sermon.  During 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


237 


the  week  he  did  his  part  in  a  large,  jovial  party,  and  then  fell 
back  into  his  old  routine. 


"Mountain-Top  Experience." 

600.  A  man  arose  in  one  of  Moody's  meetings  and  gave  his 
experience.  ' '  I  have  been  for  five  years  on  the  Mount  of  Trans- 
figuration. "  "  How  many  souls  have  you  led  to  Christ  last  year  ? ' ' 
was  the  sharp  question  that  came  from  Mr.  Moody  in  an  instant. 
"Well,  I  don't  know,"  was  the  astonished  reply.  "Have  you 
saved  any  ?  "  persisted  Mr.  Moody.  "  I  don't  know  that  I  have," 
answered  the  man.  ' '  Well,  we  don't  want  that  kind  of  mountain- 
top  experience.  When  a  man  gets  so  high  that  he  can't  reach 
down  and  save  poor  sinners,  there  is  something  wrong." 


"Take  Another." 

6ox.  A  battle  was  raging,  and  a  messenger  came  up,  and  said 
to  the  general, ' '  General,  we  have  taken  a  standard  of  the  enemy! ' ' 

The  general  kept  on  talking  with  another  of&cer,  as  if  he  did 
not  hear  it,  and  the  messenger  said  again,  "  General  we  have  taken 
a  standard  of  the  enemy ! ' ' 

The  general  did  not  seem  to  pay  any  attention  to  it,  until  the 
third  time  the  messenger  cried  out,  "General,  we  have  taken  a 
standard  of  the  enemy!"  The  general  looked  back  and  said, 
' '  Then  take  another. ' ' 

"Forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind,"  let  us  press  for- 
ward "unto  those  things  which  are  before." 


"Take  Ahoed  and  Lift." 

6o2.  There  was  very  sound  theology,  on  its  pra(ftical  side,  in 
the  reply  of  the  negro  laborer  at  Fortress  Monroe.  A  large  steamer 
was  taking  on  its  cargo ;  and  this  man  was  laboring  very  earnestly 
at  his  appointed  work.  But  another  workman  was  idling  in  the 
shade,  and  his  comrade  called  out  to  him,  "Sam!  do  you  expec' 
to  get  to  hebben  ?  "  "  Yes ! ' '  was  the  reply  of  the  idler.  ' '  Then 
take  ahold  and  lift ! ' ' 

The  Christian  is  to  be  rich  in  good  works,  not  m  order  to  be 
saved,  but  just  because  he  is  saved.  His  salvation  is  to  be  the  in- 
spiration of  his  work ! 


238 


THE  GOSPEI/  worker's  TREASURY. 


*'The  lyAZY  Minister  Dies  First." 

603.  On  one  occasion  a  neighboring  minister  warned  Dr. 
Morison,  of  Chelsea,  that  he  was  doing  too  much  work,  "De- 
pend upon  it,"  replied  Mr.  Morison,  "the  lazy  minister  dies  first." 
Six  months  after,  he  was  sent  for  by  his  friendly  monitor,  and  to 
his  amazement  and  sorrow  found  him  dying.  ' '  Do  you  remember 
what  you  once  said  to  me?"  inquired  the  dying  man.  Stunned 
by  finding  his  words  invested  with  almost  prophetic  charadler,  he 
could  only  falteringly  reply,  "  Oh,  don't  speak  of  that!"  "Yes, 
I  must  speak  of  it,"  said  his  friend.  "It  was  the  truth.  Work, 
work  while  it  is  called  to-day,  for  now  the  night  is  coming  when 
I  cannot  work."  Dr.  Morison  often  related  this  circumstance  as 
a  warning  to  the  indolent. 


Keeping  Converts  Stii.1.. 

604.  A  celebrated  docftor  of  divinity  in  New  England  boasted 
at  a  public  table  of  his  success  in  keeping  all  his  converts  still. 
He  had  great  difiiculty,  he  said,  for  they  were  in  a  terrible  fever 
to  do  something,  to  talk,  to  pray,  or  get  up  meetings,  but  by  the 
greatest  vigilance  he  had  kept  it  all  down,  and  now  his  church 
was  just  as  quiet  as  it  was  before  the  revival.  Wonderful  achieve- 
ment for  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ !  Was  that  what  the  blessed 
Savior  meant  when  he  told  Peter,  ' '  Feed  my  lambs ' '  ? 


(3.)    OPPORTUNITIES  IMPROVED. 


A  Smale  Congregation. 

€»05.  Once,  when  John  Newton  preached  in  an  English  village, 
such  was  the  indifference  that  only  a  handful  came  to  hear  him. 
But  he  was  loyal  to  Christ,  and  gave  the  best  he  had.  Among 
that  little  number  of  hearers  was  Thomas  Scott.  The  sermon 
turned  his  thoughts  toward  the  truth,  and  all  the  Christian  influ- 
ence of  "Scott's  Commentary"  may  be  traced  to  that  sermon. 
That  restri(fted  service,  which  seemed  almost  like  wasting  time, 
may  have  done  more  for  the  world  than  any  other  service  in  New- 
ton's life.    The  world  is  listening  yet  to  that  sermon. 


REVIVAIy  ANECDOTES. 


239 


OnIvY  One  Conversion. 

6o6«  Dr.  O.  H.  Tiffany,  in  a  sermon  publislied  in  the  Method- 
ist, thus  tells  the  story  of  Rev.  John  Dempster. 

Years  ago  a  camp-meeting  in  New  Hampshire  broke  up  and  went 
away  with  disappointment,  because  only  one  had  been  converted, 
a  stranger  and  a  peddler.  He  had  been  attracted  by  the  unusual 
services,  and  tying  his  horse  securely,  strayed  in  among  the  wor- 
shipers and  there  found  God.  It  was  a  very  simple  camp-meeting. 
That  one  man,  converted,  has  done  more  for  Methodism  than  any 
man  of  his  age.  He  abandoned  his  peddler's  cart,  and  went  out 
into  South  America  as  a  missionary,  and  returned  with  the  fire 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  him.  He  consecrated  his  intelled;,  and 
founded  our  theological  schools  and  colleges. 

John  Dempster  was  converted  under  the  circumstances  which  I 
have  mentioned.  He  has  been  the  occasion  of  blessing  and  all 
praise,  until  his  name  is  a  household  title  through  all  New  En- 
gland. I  would  rather  have  been  the  man  that  led  such  a  one  to 
Christ  than  any  other  individual  who  saw  fit  to  accomplish  won- 
derful deeds. 


One  Conversion  IvEads  to  Many. 

607.  The  visit  of  a  traveling  peddler  to  the  door  of  Richard 
Baxter's  father  led  to  the  purchase  of  a  little  book;  that  book  led 
to  the  conversion  of  Richard  Baxter.  Baxter  wrote  the  "Saint's 
Everlasting  Rest,"  which  was  blessed  to  the  conversion  of  Philip 
Doddridge.  Doddridge  wrote  the ' '  Rise  and  Progress  of  Religion, ' ' 
and  that  led  to  the  conversion  of  Wilberforce.  Wilberforce's ' '  Prac- 
tical View"  was  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  Dr.  Chalmers  and 
Leigh  Richmond,  the  results  of  whose  lives  for  good  are  incalcu- 
lable. 


After  Many  Days. 

6o8.  An  English  missionary  magazine  tells  an  interesting 
story  of  a  little  child  who,  a  long  time  ago,  when  she  was  four  or 
five  years  old,  had  some  money  given  her  as  a  birthday  gift.  She 
made  up  her  mind  to  devote  part  of  her  money  to  the  purchase  of 
a  Bible  to  send  to  India.  Her  name  was  written  on  the  fly-leaf 
After  reaching  India  the  Bible,  it  seems,  was  given  to  a  heathen 
girl.  In  after-years  the  English  child,  when  she  came  to  be  a 
woman,  gave  herself  to  the  missionary  work,  and  was  appointed 
to  labor  in  a  certain  city  of  India.  While  there,  in  the  rounds  of 
her  missionary  toil,  she  met  the  very  same  Bible  she  had  given 


240  THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 

when  a  child.  The  book  had  not  been  torn  or  negled;ed,  and  the 
heathen  girl  who  had  received  it  was  then  a  Christian  lady,  the 
wife  of  a  Christian  husband.  As  the  missionary  entered  that 
Christian  home  and  took  into  her  own  hands  the  Bible  which  had 
her  name  on  the  title-page,  with  the  record  of  her  birthday,  years 
ago,  we  think  her  heart  must  have  been  overflowing  with  joy. 


Seeming  Vain  IvAbor. 

609.  Dr.  Munhall  preached  in  Kokomo,  Indiana,  one  Sab- 
bath, while  still  at  work  as  a  dentist  in  Indianapolis.  After 
preaching  eight  times  between  8:00  A.  M.  and  10:00  p.  m.,  no 
special  interest  seemed  to  be  manifested,  and  the  next  morning, 
w^hile  on  the  train  home,  he  was  tempted  to  feel  that  it  was  no 
use;  he  did  no  good,  but  lost  money  and  time.  Fourteen  months 
later  he  met  a  student  in  a  university  town  who  was  converted 
in  consequence  of  that  Sunday's  preaching,  and  was  now  study- 
ing for  the  ministry.  Three  years  afterward  he  related  the  fore- 
going at  Kokomo,  in  a  general  meeting,  when  three  rose  in  suc- 
cession and  stated  that  under  the  influence  of  that  day's  preaching 
they,  too,  had  been  converted. 


A  Good  Sermon  to  a  Smai.1,  Audience. 

6xo.  Dr.  layman  Beecher,  one  stormy,  snowy  night,  preached 
to  but  one  hearer,  who  went  away  after  the  sermon  before  the 
Dodlor  could  speak  to  him.  Twenty  j^ears  afterwards,  in  a  pleas- 
ant village  in  Central  Ohio,  a  stranger  accosted  Dr.  Beecher,  say- 
ing, "Do  you  not  remember  preaching  twenty  years  ago,  in  such 
a  place,  to  a  single  person  ?  "  "Yes,  sir,"  said  the  Dodtor,  grasp- 
ing his  hand,  "I  do,  indeed;  and  if  you  are  the  man,  I  have  been 
wishing  to  see  you  ever  since."  "I  am  the  man,  sir;  and  that 
sermon  saved  my  soul,  made  a  minister  of  me,  and  yonder  is  my 
church.    The  converts  of  that  sermon  are  all  over  Ohio. ' ' 


A  Sailor's  Reproof. 

6X1.  A  British  naval  commander  named  Haldane,  during  an 
engagement  at  sea,  became  terribly  enraged  at  his  men,  and  wished 
them  all  "in  hell."  One  of  them,  a  poor  Highlander,  touched  his 
cap  and  said,  "Captain,  I  believe  God  hears  prayer — and  if  he 


REVIVAI,  ANECDOTES. 


241 


had  answered  your  prayer  just  now,  w^here  should  we  have  been  ? ' ' 
The  sailor's  words  troubled  the  captain  so  much  afterward  that  he 
became  a  thoughtful,  and  in  reality  a  praying  man.  Captain 
James  Haldane's  influence  brought  his  infidel  brother,  Robert, 
to  Christ.  Robert  Haldane  settled  in  Geneva,  and  became  the 
means  of  the  conversion  of  Felix  Neff,  Henry  Pyt,  and  J.  H.  Merle, 
D'Aubigne,  President  of  the  Theological  School  of  Geneva  and 
author  of  the  History  of  the  Reformation. 

A  shining  train  of  blessings  to  follow  from  a  humble  seaman's 
reproof  to  a  profane  captain. 


One  Convert  Wins  Another. 

Mr.  William  Booth,  in  his  magazine,  writes:  "About  a 
month  ago,  one  of  our  people,  who  had  herself  been  a  drunkard, 
was  standing  at  one  of  the  open-air  services  on  the  waste,  when 
she  observed  a  woman  who  had  formerly  been  one  of  her  bad  com- 
panions suddenly  leave  the  crowd  and  walk  quickly  away.  Hur- 
rying after  her,  she  found  this  poor  drunkard  in  great  distress 
about  her  soul.  '  Oh!^  she  said,  '/  listened  to  the  speakers:  but 
when  I  saw  yoii  standi?ig  there  so  wonderfully  changed  from  what 
you  used  to  be,  I  could  stand  it  no  longer.'  She  was  induced,  how- 
ever, to  return  to  the  meeting,  and  then  to  attend  the  service  in 
the  hall,  where  she  found  salvation.  She  is  now  another  living 
witness  of  the  power  of  Christ  to  save  the  drunkard.  May  God 
preserve  her  faithful  unto  death ! ' ' 


The  Far-Reaching  Infeuence  oe  a  Revivae. 

613.  In  a  prayer-meeting  held  in  a  church  in  New  York,  where 
a  revival  had  occurred  the  preceding  winter,  a  pastor  of  a  church 
in  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  rose  and  said:  "You  can  never  estimate  the 
results  of  a  single  revival.  Last  winter,  while  merchants  from 
my  congregation  were  in  New  York,  they  attended  revival  prayer- 
meetings  in  this  church.  They  came  home  and  poured  forth  the 
emotions  of  their. warm  hearts,  and  a  great  awakening  followed." 


"Worth  Saving." 

614.  Years  ago,  the  faculty  of  a  New  England  college  met  to 
expel  a  reprobate  student.  His  tutor  alone  expostulated.  He 
called  on  his  pupil,  and  said :  ' '  There  is  a  gifted  young  man  in 


J242 


the:  gospeii,  worker's  treasury. 


Ihis  college  whom  I  wish,  to  save.  Will  you  help  me?"  The 
3' oung-  man  was  touched.  He  was  reformed,  and  converted.  He 
graduated  with  honor,  and  became  a  pastor.  Years  rolled  awa}'. 
Not  long  since,  he  and  his  old  tutor,  now  president  of  a  college, 
met  for  the  first  time  at  the  Presb3^terian  General  Assembh'. 
The  young  preacher  seized  his  friend  by  the  hand,  and  with  a  tear 
in  his  ejQ,  and  a  sob  in  his  voice,  exclaimed,  ' '  My  dear  dodlor, 
you  are  the  only  man  that  ever  thought  me  worth  saving." 


"Beside  Ali,  Waters." 

615.  Two  young  men  traveling  on  horseback  came  to  the 
same  brook.  Whibst  their  horses  were  drinking,  one  of  the  stran- 
gers, a  young  Christian,  spoke  to  the  other  a  word  concerning 
salvation.  The  horses  finished  drinking,  and  the  travelers  sepa- 
rated in  different  directions.  They  never  met  again  in  this  world ; 
but  the  3^oung  man  spoken  to  was  brought  under  serious  impres- 
sion, was  led  to  consecrate  himself  to  Christ,  gave  himself  as  a 
minister  of  the  gospel,  and  wanted  to  give  himself  as  a  mis- 
sionary to  the  heathen. 

He  was  an  only  son  of  a  very  wealthy  father,  who  wanted  to 
have  his  wealth,  and  name,  and  fame,  and  position  in  society  per- 
petuated in  his  son.  Said  he  to  the  young  man,  "My  son,  I  will 
support  twenty  missionaries  of  Christ,  if  you  will  not  give  ^'■our- 
self  to  the  work,  or  to  the  work  of  the  ministry."  The  young 
man  replied  to  his  father  that  he  must  preach  the  gospel,  that  the 
Savior  had  given  more  for  him  than  he  could  give  with  himself 
and  all  his  money — he  must  do  it.  He  did  do  it.  He  bore  the 
gospel  to  Africa,  planted  the  standard  of  the  cross  on  its  dark 
shores,  and  laid  his  own  bones  there  as  a  testimony  to  his  sin- 
cerity. 

These  young  horsemen  never  met  again  in  this  world,  but  they 
have  met  on  the  shores  of  immortality.  They  recognize  each 
other  there.  They  have  grasped  hands  in  an  acquaintanceship 
there  which  shall  never  be  terminated.  May  God  give  courage 
to  speak  to  the  souls  around. 


A  Word  in  Season. 

6x6.  A  young  man  in  San  Francisco,  California,  was  on  his 
way  to  the  theater,  when  a  Christian  worker  put  into  his  hand  a 
card  of  invitation  to  an  evening  prayer-meeting.  He  accepted 
the  invitation,  attended  the  meeting,  and  before  he  left  the  house, 
he  had  given  his  heart  to  the  Savior. 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


243 


The  Arrow  Hit  Home. 

617.  A  Christian  lady  once  having  occasion  to  write  on  some 
"business  matter  to  a  young  man  in  the  navy,  who  was  almost  a 
stranger,  thought,  "Shall  I  close  this  as  anybody  would,  or  shall 
I  say  a  word  for  my  Master  ? ' '  and  lifting  up  her  heart  for  a  mo- 
ment, she  wrote,  telling  him  that  his  constant  change  of  scene 
and  place  was  an  apt  illustration  of  the  word,  "Here  we  have 
no  continuing  city,"  and  asked  if  he  could  say,  "I  seek  one  to 
come."    Tremblingly  she  folded  it  and  sent  it  off. 

Back  came  the  answer:  "Thank  you  so  much  for  those  kind 
words.  I  am  an  orphan,  and  no  one  has  spoken  to  me  like  that 
since  my  mother  died,  long  years  ago." 

The  arrow,  shot  at  venture,  hit  home;  and  the  young  man 
shortly  after  rejoiced  in  the  fullness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel 
of  peace. 


A  Star  in  Gladstone's  Crown. 

6l8.  An  old  woman-ser\^ant  had  a  son  inclined  to  go  wrong. 
The  mother  remonstrated  and  advised  her  boy,  but  all  to  no  pur- 
pose; he  seemed  determined  on  a  headlong  course  to  ruin.  At 
last,  the  mother,  in  her  desperation,  caught  the  idea  that,  if  she 
could  persuade  the  Premier  to  take  him  in  hand,  perhaps  the 
prodigal  might  be  reclaimed.  ' '  Screwing  her  courage  to  the  stick- 
ing-point,"  —  for  what  will  a  mother  not  do  for  her  child? — she 
approached  her  master,  and,  in  trembling  tones,  preferred  her  re- 
quest. Mr.  Gladstone  responded  at  once ;  and  though  the  affairs 
of  one  of  the  greatest  kingdoms  in  the  world  pressed  heavily 
upon  him,  with  genuine  simplicity  of  character,  he  had  the  lad 
sent  to  his  study,  when  he  spoke  tender  words  of  advice  and  re- 
monstrance, and  knelt  down  and  prayed  a  higher  power  to  help 
in  the  work  of  redemption.  This  kindly  a(5tion  was  eflfe(5lual; 
the  lad  became  a  reformed  charadler — a  follower  of  Jesus,  a  com- 
fort to  his  mother,  and  a  star  for  the  Premier's  crown  when  he 
shall  be  called  to  his  reward  above. 


A  Beggar  Saved  by  a  Song. 

619.  An  old  blind  fiddler  and  ballad  singer,  led  by  a  little 
boy,  was  wandering,  one  cold  day,  through  the  streets  of  an 
^English  city,  trying  to  collect  pennies  by  his  music,  when  a  pious 
lady  took  pity  on  him,  and  called  him  in,  and  fed  him.    She  was 


244 


THK  GosPEiv  worke;r's  treasury. 


a  fine  singer  herself,  and  before  he  left,  she  sang  him  the  hymn 
ending, — 

"I'll  bless  the  lyamb  with  cheerful  voice, 
And  sing  his  bleeding^  love, " 

and  taught  him  the  words  and  tune. 

The  poor  old  man  went  about  singing  that  hymn  and  playing 
it  on  his  violin  for  two  months,  and,  as  he  expressed  it,  the  more 
he  sang  the  lines,  the  more  guilty  he  felt.  Their  meaning  en- 
tered into  his  very  heart,  and  preached  the  gospel  to  him.  Thej- 
made  him  a  sincere  penitent,  and  finally  led  him  into  the  king- 
dom—  and  when  he  stopped  again  at  his  kind  friend's  door,  it 
was  to  thank  her  for  teaching  him  how  to  glorify  God. 


Saved  From  Suicide  by  a  Card. 

620.  Recently  it  was  reported  in  the  news  columns  of  a  New- 
York  daily  paper  that  a  man  stepped  into  a  horse-car  in  New  York, 
and,  before  taking  his  seat,  gave  each  passenger  a  little  card,  bear- 
ing the  inscription,  ' '  I^ook  to  Jesus,  when  tempted,  when  troubled, 
when  dying." 

One  of  the  passengers  carefully  read  the  card  and  put  it  into  his- 
pocket.  As  he  left  the  car  he  said  to  the  giver:  "  Sir,  when  you 
gave  me  this  card,  I  was  on  my  way  to  the  ferry,  intending  to 
jump  from  the  boat  and  drown  myself.  The  death  of  my  wife  and 
son  had  robbed  me  of  all  desire  to  live.  But  this  ticket  has  per- 
suaded me  to  begin  life  anew.    Good-day,  and  God  bless  you ! ' ' 

All  this  is  no  imaginary  story,  taken  from  a  religious  novel.  It 
happened  on  a  Fulton  Ferry  car,  on  a  day  in  March,  1878,  and  the 
man  who  distributed  the  cards  was  Mr.  James  Huggins,  the  pro- 
prietor of  a  Pearl  Street  printing  establishment. 


Saved  From  Death. 

621.  A  gentleman  in  New  York,  who  is  in  the  habit  of  dis- 
tributing tracfts  on  Sunda}'-,  was  once  discouraged  by  the  rain  from 
going  his  usual  round.  His  little  daughter  came  from  Sunday- 
school,  and  found  him  at  home,  with  his  bundle  of  tradls  lying 
on  the  table.  She  seemed  surprised,  and  was  quite  exercised  when 
he  told  her  that  he  should  not  go  out. 

"Let  me  take  them,  papa,"  she  said, 

' '  No,  my  dear ;  it  is  too  wet. ' ' 

But  she  pleaded  that  she  was  already  dressed  for  the  wet  —  had 
on  her  water-proof  and  rubbers,  and  she  would  take  the  big  um- 
brella, and  the  rain  wouldn't  hurt  her  a  bit,  and  besides  "those 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


245 


people  will  want  their  tradls.  Do  let  me  go,  papa."  And  finally 
^lie  got  his  consent  and  started  out. 

At  one  house  she  was  obliged  to  knock  a  great  while  before  she 
could  get  in.  A  woman  with  a  gloomy  face  at  last  came  to  the 
door.  The  little  girl  smiled,  gave  her  a  tra(5t,  and  went  on,  till 
«he  had  finished  her  round. 

Next  Sunday  the  father  of  the  little  girl  heard  a  remarkable 
story  of  rescue  from  death,  and  of  conversion  to  God.  The  per- 
son who  told  him  was  the  woman  herself,  at  whose  door  the  child 
had  waited  so  long.  She  said  she  had  determined  to  commit  sui- 
cide, and  was  in  the  acft  of  hanging  herself  when  she  heard  the 
knock  on  the  door.  She  took  the  tra(5l  from  the  hand  of  the  little 
missionary,  and  the  reading  of  it  raised  her  from  despair  to  the 
^lad  hopes  and  peace  of  the  gospel. 


The  Work  of  an  Invalid. 

622.  Sufferers — and  the  faithful  in  duty  of  any  kind — are 
doing  the  "  Father's  business."  A  pious  but  helpless  woman,  in 
a  destitute  neighborhood,  who  thought  she  was  no  longer  of  any 
use  in  the  world,  was  visited  by  a  minister,  to  whom  she  told  her 
troubles,  and  was  much  comforted  by  his  conversation.  Before  he 
went  away,  she  made  him  promise  to  appoint  a  religious  meeting 
at  her  house.  The  meeting  was  held,  and  resulted  in  a  series  of 
revival  meetings,  in  the  course  of  which  more  than  thirty  souls 
found  the  peace  of  God.  lyike  Joseph  and  Mary,  the  poor  woman 
"understood  not"  the  providence  that  hindered  her.  But  she 
knew  afterwards — as  they  did. 


A  Husband's  Pardon, 

623.  After  the  Canadian  Rebellion,  a  husband  was  banished 
to  Van  Diemen's  Land.  The  wife  left  Canada,  went  to  England, 
and  there  remained,  working  for  her  board,  till  she  could  get  an 
interview  with  the  queen.  On  her  knees  she  pleaded  for  a  par- 
don for  her  husband.  Finally,  she  obtained  it ;  and  waited  and 
worked  till  that  pardon  was  sent  to  her  husband,  who  soon  after 
joined  her  in  London,  and  returned  with  her  to  Canada.  The 
wife  whose  heart  is  set  upon  the  conversion  of  her  husband,  will 
sooner  or  later  succeed. 


"Through  a  Hole  in  the  Wall." 

624.  The  Countess  of  Huntingdon  once  spoke  to  a  workman 
-who  was  repairing  a  garden  wall,  and  pressed  him  to  take  some 


246 


the;  gospeIv  worker's  treasury. 


thouglit  concerning'  eternit}^  and  the  state  of  his  soul.  Some 
years  afterward,  she  was  speaking  to  another  on  the  same  sub- 
je(ft,  and  said  to  him,  "Thomas,  I  fear  you  never  pra}^,  nor  look 
to  Christ  for  salvation. "  "  Your  ladyship  is  mistaken, ' '  answered 
the  man ;  "I  heard  what  passed  between  you  and  James  at  such 
a  time,  and  the  word  you  designed  for  him,  took  effecft  on  me." 
"How  did  you  happen  to  hear  it?"  asked  her  ladyship.  "I 
heard  it,"  answered  the  man,  "on  the  other  side  of  the  garden, 
through  a  hole  in  the  wall,  and  shall  never  forget  the  impression. 
I  received." 


The  Widow's  IvAmp. 

625,  Some  years  ago,  there  dwelt  a  widow  in  a  lonely  cot- 
tage on  the  sea-shore.  All  around  her  the  coast  was  rugged  and 
dangerous ;  and  many  a  time  was  her  heart  melted  by  the  sight 
of  wrecked  fishing-boats  and  coasting  vessels,  and  the  piteous 
cries  of  wrecked  human  beings.  One  stormy  night,  when  the 
howling  wind  was  making  her  loneliness  more  lonely,  and  her 
mind  was  conjuring  up  what  the  next  morning  light  would  dis- 
close, a  happy  thought  occurred  to  her.  Her  cottage  stood  on  an 
elevated  spot,  and  her  window  looked  out  upon  the  sea ;  might 
she  not  place  her  lamp  by  that  window,  that  it  might  be  a  beacon 
light  to  warn  some  poor  mariner  off ,  the  coast  ?  She  did  so  all 
her  life  aiter,  and  many  a  poor  fisherman  had  cause  to  bless  God- 
for  the  widow's  lamp — many  a  crew  was  saved  from  perishing. 


A  Praying  Si.ave. 

626.  In  Lawrence  County,  Middle  Tennessee,  about  forty 
years  ago,  Mingo,  a  negro  slave,  professed  religion  at  his  plow, 
and  would  often  get  happy  when  plowing.  On  one  occasion^ 
while  he  was  rejoicing,  his  master  forbade  him,  and  asked  if  he 
w^ould  cease. 

"No,  master,"  said  Mingo. 

"Then,"  said  his  master,  "I  will  whip  you  to  death,  or  make 
3^ou  cease  this  foolishness,"  and  he  whipped  him  till  the  blood 
ran  to  the  ground. 

Mingo  never  wept,  but  fell  on  his  knees,  and  began  to  sing  in. 
a  strong,  clear  voice,  "My  wearied  soul  will  soon  be  at  rest." 

Lyman  laid  down  the  hickory,  and  went  away  in  great  distress, 
and  that  night  proposed  to  his  wife  that  they  should  have  Mingo> 
come  in  and  pray  for  them.  And  Mingo  was  brought  in,  and 
prayed  for  his  persecuting  master.    Lyman  was  a  deist. 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


247 


Very  soon,  two  of  lyyman's  daughters  and  his  wife  professed 
religion,  and  at  home,  from  the  influence  of  this  praying  negro 
slave.  And  very  soon  the  deist  master  furnished  Mingo  with  a 
horse,  and  permitted  him  to  go  in  comfort  to  all  his  appointments, 
for  he  had  his  own  special  appointments  for  religious  services 
among  his  people,  and  was  often  invited  to  pray  and  exhort 
among  white  people. 

The  above  incident  was  related  by  Deacon  Bsaias  Baker,  of 
Amity  Church,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  the  circumstances. 


The  Power  oe  Sympathy. 

627,  A  lofty  tenement-house  in  one  of  our  large  cities  was 
wrapped  in  flames.  Suddenly  a  shriek  from  an  upper  window 
told  that  one  unrescued  life  was  left  in  the  building.  A  long  lad- 
der was  raised,  and  a  brave  fireman  swiftly  climbed  it  almost  to 
the  top.  Stifled  by  the  smoke,  he  stopped.  The  crowd  was  in 
agony,  as  a  life  seemed  lost,  for  every  moment  of  hesitation  ap- 
peared an  age. 

While  this  shivering  fear  seized  every  beholder,  a  voice  from  the 
crowd  pealed  out,  ' '  Cheer  him !  cheer  him ! ' '  and  a  wild  ' '  hurrah ' ' 
burst  from  the  excited  spectators.  As  the  cheer  reached  the  fire- 
man, he  started  upward  through  the  curling  smoke,  and  in  a  few 
moments  was  seen  coming  down  the  ladder  with  a  woman  in  his 
arms. 

The  cheer  did  the  work. 


He  "HoIvEEr'd  'Amen.'" 

628.  Three  little  boys  were  left  alone  for  a  while  to  "take 
care  of  the  house."  It  was  a  cold,  windy  day,  and  the  wood-work 
around  the  stove-pipe  caught  fire.  ^  The  burning  place  was  high 
up,  and  difiicult  for  the  children  to  reach,  but  the  brave  little  fel- 
lows put  out  the  fire  without  alarming  any  one. 

When  the  father  and  mother  returned,  they  shuddered  to  see  the 
danger  to  which  their  dear  ones  had  been  exposed,  and  with  thank- 
ful hearts  praised  them  for  their  courage. 

'  *  How  did  you  manage,  Tommy,  to  reach  the  fire  ? ' '  asked  their 
father. 

"Why,"  said  Tommy,  "I  pushed  the  table  up  to  the  wall  and 
got  upon  that." 

"And  did  you  help  brother,  Jimmy  ?  "  to  the  next. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  brought  him  a  pail  of  water  and  handed  him  the 
dipper." 


248  THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 

"And  what  did  you  do?"  said  tlie  proud  father  to  his  pet,  the 
youngest  of  the  group. 

' '  Well,  papa, ' '  said  Artie, ' '  I  just  stood  hy  and  holler' d  'Amen. ' ' ' 


The  Power  op  a  Look. 

629w  Doctor  Cutler,  of  Brooklyn,  was  returning  from  a  visit, 
carrying  a  pair  of  chickens.  He  was  met  b}- a  friend  who  wished 
to  know  the  price  of  the  chickens,  to  ^vhom  he  made  the  reph' 
that  he  was  not  rich  enough  to  bu}'  them.  He  then  related  their 
brief  history-.  As  he  was  passing  the  humble  dwelling  of  a  poor 
woman  whose  husband  had  been  vers'  intemperate,  she  called 
after  him,  and  holding  up  these  chickens  begged  him  to  accept 
them.  '  I  told  her."'  said  he,  "she  could  not  afford  to  give  awaj^ 
such  a  fine  pair."  "Mr.  Cutler,"  said  she,  with  a  sad  expression, 
"you  will  hurt  m}'  feelings  if  you  do  not  accept  them.  I  have 
fatted  and  picked  them  on  purpose  for  j-ou,  thej-  being  the  only 
gift  I  am  able  to  make  to  requite  your  kindness  done  to  me  and  my 
children."  He  remarked  that  he  knew  of  no  favor.  "  Recently, 
sir,"  said  the  poor  woman,  '  '3'ou  have  reformed  my  husband." 
This  could  not  be ;  he  had  never  spoken  to  him  a  single  word  on 
that  subjecl.  But  as  he  left  his  humble  home  one  day,  he  emptied 
out  his  spirits,  declaring  that  no  words  had  ever  made  an3^  im- 
pression on  his  mind,  but  the  look  of  that  man  he  could  not 
endure.    He  showed  what  he  meant ! 


(4.)    OPPORTUNITIES  NEGLECTED. 


"  Ix  Season,  Out  of  Season." 

630.    Dr.  Chalmers,  on  one  occasion,  spent  an  evening  with 

a  number  of  pious  friends  and  a  former  parishioner,  vho  was 
sevent\--two  3-ears  of  age,  and  apparenth'  in  perfecth'  good  health, 
though,  alas  I  as  yet  without  hope  in  Christ.  During  the  even- 
ing, the  conversation  took  a  devout  turn,  and  was  continued  till 
a  late  hour.  The  old  man  listened,  and  seemed  attentive.  Dr. 
Chalmers  obserA'ed  this,  and  felt  inclined  to  speak  to  him  per- 
sonally- about  his  eternal  interest,  but  thought  it  would  hardh' 
be  proper  before  the  company-.  The  next  morning  a  noise  was 
heard  in  the  old  man's  room.  Dr.  Chalmers  ran  in  just  in  time 
to  see  him  die.    It  was  a  solemn  scene ;  and  no  sooner  was  it  cer- 


RKVIVAI.  ANKCDOTES. 


249 


tain  that  life  was  extin(ft,  than  he  called  the  whole  household  to- 
gether, and,  kneeling-  down,  offered  a  most  affedting  prayer,  and 
gave  a  solemn  exhortation;  but  he  was  greatly  distressed  the 
whole  day,  a  large  part  of  which  was  spent  with  a  friend  in  the 
woods.  ' '  It  was  touching, ' '  said  that  friend,  ' '  to  see  him  sit  down 
on  a  bank,  frequently  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  say:  'God  has 
rebuked  nie !  I  know  now  what  St.  Paul  means  by  being  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season.  Had  I  addressed  that  old  man  last 
night,  with  urgency,  I  might  have  seemed  "out  of  season"  to 
human  eyes  —  but  how  seasonable  it  would  have  been ! '  " 


A  Pastor's  Humii.iation. 

631.  Dr.  Pentecost  narrates  the  following  regarding  a  New 
I^ngland  pastor.  This  pastor  had  had  one  of  the  most  prominent 
men  in  the  community  in  his  congregation  for  twelve  years, 
without  speaking  to  him  personally  about  his  spiritual  interests. 
During  a  meeting  held  by  Dr.  Pentecost  in  his  church,  he  felt  it 
his  duty  to  go  and  talk  to  him  on  the  subjedl.  After  a  few  intro- 
du(5lory  commonplace  remarks,  the  pastor  stated  his  errand.  Said 
the  gentleman:  "  Pastor,  you  are  too  late!  You  might  have  won 
me  to  Christ  years  ago,  if  you  had  come;  but  now  you  are  too 
late!"  "  O,  no,"  said  the  startled  pastor,  "it  is  never  too  late. 
The  lyord  is  ready  and  willing  to  receive  you."  "No,  pastor, 
you  are  too  late ! "  "  Why  do  you  say  so  ?  "  said  the  pastor, 
somewhat  puzzled  at  the  expression  on  his  friend's  face.  "Be- 
cause," said  the  merchant,  "having  waited  and  longed  for  years 
to  have  you  speak  to  me,  and  despairing  of  your  ever  coming, 
not  half  an  hour  ago,  not  able  longer  to  bear  my  load  of  sin  and 
distress,  I  fell  down  on  my  knees  here,  alone,  in  this  office,  and 
gave  myself  to  Christ.  I  am  sorry,  pastor,  that  you  never  came; 
but  you  are  too  late  to  win  me  now. ' ' 

Do  you  wonder  that  the  pastor  went  home  deeply  humbled  ? 


"The:  Body  of  My  Own  Father." 

632.  In  the  West,  a  man  was  plowing  near  a  river ;  another 
man  was  chopping  on  the  bank ;  a  third  was  on  the  opposite  side 
seeking  a  fording  place.  The  man  plowing  called  to  the  one 
chopping,  who  was  nearer  the  river,  and  said :  ' '  There  is  a  man 
over  the  river;  I  guess  he  is  a  stranger,  and  wants  to  cross.  Just 
step  up  there  and  tell  him  where  the  fording  place  is."  "If  he 
will  let  me  alone,"  said  the  chopper,  "I  will  him."  "But  just 
step  up  there — it  will  take  you  but  a  moment."    "I  know  it," 


250 


the;  gospeiv  worker's  treasury. 


said  the  other,  "but  when  I  leave  my  work  to  help  others,  I  want 
my  pay  for  it." 

The  man,  in  attempting  to  cross  the  river,  was  drowned.  Some 
two  hours  after,  when  they  had  dragged  the  body  out  upon  the 
bank,  the  chopper  exclaimed,  "Why,  this  is  the  body  of  my  own 
father ! ' '  Who  does  not  call  that  son  guilty  of  the  death  of  his 
father  ?  While  Christians  are  neglecting  the  work  of  saving  the 
people,  their  own  friends  are  being  lost. 


A  Neglected  Opportunity. 

633.  During  the  progress  of  a  meeting  in  a  Western  com- 
munity, a  man  killed  two  members  of  his  family,  and  then  hanged 

himself.    A  Deacon  H  came  into  the  meeting,  and  when  the 

opportunity  was  given  for  testimony,  he  arose  and  said:  "  I  never 
felt  so  guilty  as  I  do  just  now,    I  have  been  over  to  the  barn 

where  Mr.  W  is  hanging,  and  I  passed  so  near  that  I  touched 

his  clothes,  and  he  swung  round  and  stared  me  in  the  face,  and 
seemed  to  say,  'Deacon  H  ,  look  at  me!  Here  is  the  man  be- 
side whom  you  have  lived  for  twelve  years,  and  to  whom  you 
have  never  said  a  word  on  the  subjedt  of  religion.  See  what  I 
have  done  this  morning  ?  See  what  an  end  I  have  come  to  ?  AU 
of  which  you  might  have  prevented. '  Those  sightless  eyes  looked 
me  through  and  through,  and  my  conscience  responded,  *  Guilty  I 
guilty!  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man.'  " 


One  Sad  Negi^ect. 

634.  Not  long  ago  I  was  called  into  the  country  to  a  prayer- 
meeting,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  exercises,  an  old  man  with  gray 
hair  got  up,  and  after  an  exhortation — beautiful  because  it  spoke 
of  the  better  country  that  he,  a  father  in  Israel,  was  hoping  for, 
and  because  it  was  bright  with  glorious  anticipations  of  the  fu- 
ture—  he  paused,  and  amid  the  greatest  solemnity,  said,  "Yet, 
with  all  this,  there  is  one  that  I  dread  to  meet  in  that  blessed 
country."  He  then  told  us  of  a  dying  bed,  and  of  one  who,  in 
her  last  hour,  had  said  to  him,  ' '  Mr.  Harris,  oh,  why  did  you 
never  speak  to  me  of  these  things  before  ? ' ' 


There  was  No  Next  Time. 

^35*  A  Christian  tradesman  bethought  him  that  he  had 
never  spoken  to  a  certain  regular  customer  about  his  soul,  though 


REvivAi.  ane:cdotes. 


251 


the  man  had  patronized  him  for  j^ears.  He  determined  to  plead- 
earnestly  with  him  the  next  time  he  came  in  his  way.  There 
was  no  next  time;  his  customer  died  suddenly,  so  that  he  saw 
him  no  more. 


•         Aaron  Burr. 

636.  The  father  of  Aaron  Burr  was  an  earnest  Christian  min- 
ister, and  his  mother  a  devout  woman,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan 
Kdwards,  and  yet  he  was  an  apostate.  During-  his  last  year  in 
college,  at  Princeton,  there  was  a  revival  in  the  institution.  Burr 
confessed  that  he  was  moved  hy  the  revival.  He  respedted  the 
religion  of  his  mother;  he  had  taken  for  granted  the  creed  in 
which  he  had  been  educated.  Therefore,  though  he  was  repelled 
by  the  wild  excitement  which  prevailed,  his  mind  was  not  at  ease. 
He  consulted  Dr.  Witherspoon  in  this  perplexity.  President 
Witherspoon  was  opposed  to  revivals,  and  he  accordingly  told  the 
anxious  student  that  the  raging  excitement  was  fanatical,  not 
truly  religious,  and  young  Burr  went  away  relieved.  This  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  key  to  Burr's  apostate  career. 


Parentai.  Neglect. 

637.  Dr.  G.  F.  Pentecost  says  that  the  first  soul  God  ever  gave 
him  was  the  daughter  of  a  Presbyterian  elder.  She  said  to  him 
that  though  they  had  always  had  family  worship  in  their  home, 
neither  her  father  nor  her  mother  had  ever  spoken  to  her  person- 
ally about  her  soul,  or  the  need  of  giving  herself  to  Christ. 


The  Doctor's  Mistake. 

638.  A  distinguished  physician  and  his  wife  embraced  the 
Savior.  He  said  to  his  pastor,  one  da^^,  in  great  anguish :  "  Oh, 
I  have  made  a  fatal  mistake!  While  I  deferred  religion,  my  pre- 
cious and  gifted  son  has  died  in  his  sins.  My  dear  daughter  and 
her  worldly  husband  seem  to  be  utterly  beyond  my  influence. ' ' 
He  went  to  the  grave  a  sorrowing  man. 


A  Cause  oe  Skepticism. 

639.  A  young  skeptic  once  said  to  Mr.  Pentecost,  the  evangel- 
ist, that  he  "did  not  believe  there  was  any  truth  in  Christianity.'" 


252 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Mr.  Pentecost  replied,  "  Tlien  you  must  believe  that  we  Christians 
are  either  h^^pocrites  or  fools."  "Well,"  answered  the  young- 
man,  "  I  should  not  care  to  put  it  in  just  that  language,  but  that 
about  expresses  my  feeling."  Mr.  Pentecost  then  asked,  "  Is  your 
mother  a  Christian?"  "She  is  a  member  of  the  church,  and  a 
professing  Christian, ' '  was  the  reply.  ' '  Which  is  vShe —  a  fool  or  a 
hypocrite  ?  "  The  young  man  felt  inclined  to  resent  this  way  of 
putting  the  case ;  but  explaining  that  he  meant  no  disrespedl,  and 
assuming  that  the  young  skeptic's  mother  was  not  a  fool,  Mr. 
Pentecost  again  put  the  question,  "Is  your  mother,  in  your  judg- 
ment, a  hypocrite  ?"  Bursting  into  a  flood  of  tears,  the  young 
man  sobbed  out,  "Well,  if  my  mother  is  a  real  Christian,  why 
has  she  never  spoken  to  me  about  my  soul  ? ' ' 


Talking  About  Brass. 

640.  Major  Whittle  tells  the  following  anecdote:  — 
"Some  years  ago  a  gentleman,  whose  wife  was  a  member  of  the 
church  with  which  I  was  connecfted,  came  into  my  ofiice,  and  with 
'a  little  of  evident  embarrassment, — as  I  paused  in  my  writing  for 
him  to  make  known  his  errand, —  asked  what  we  w^ere  paying  for 
brass  filings  and  scraps,  and  from  that  talked  on  some  minutes 
about  brass;  and  then,  without  coming  to  any  point,  bade  me 
g-ood  morning,  and  went  out.  I  went  on  with  my  work  and 
thought  no  more  of  it,  until  the  next  prayer-meeting  the  wife  of 

the  same  gentleman  came  up  to  me  and  said .    '  Did  Mr.  call 

upon  you  last  Monday  ?  He  was  moved  Sunday  night,  and  said 
he  should  call  on  you  the  next  morning.'  'Yes,'  said  I,  'he 
called,  but  he  had  nothing  to  say  to  me  of  any  religious  interest ; 
he  only  talked  upon  brass.'  'Oh,'  said  she,  'that  was  only  an 
excuse ;  he  wanted  you  to  talk  with  him  about  his  soul.  Did  you 
say  nothing  to  him  ? '  And  I  had  to  confess  to  this  anxious  wife 
that  I,  too,  had  talked  about  nothing  but  brass.'' 


A  Great  Mistake. 

64T.  A  wealthy  Christian  lady  said  to  her  pastor,  in  her 
dying  hours :  "I  have  made  a  great  mistake.  My  only  son  was 
in  college.  When  his  companions  here  were  turning  to  the  lyord, 
you  begged  me  to  bring  him  home  for  a  season.  This  I  declined 
to  do.  Now  I  leave  him  a  hardened  sinner."  He  died  soon  after, 
a  sot. 


REVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


253 


An  Unavailing  Regret. 

642.  A  Christian  father  allowed  his  restless  son  to  go  to  sea. 
He  fell  from  the  mast,  and  was  instantly  killed.  ' '  Oh,  God ! ' '  cried 
the  agonized  father,  "if  I  only  had  my  boy  again,  he  should 
never  leave  me  till  he  was  a  child  of  God. ' ' 


''What  Have  You  Done.-*" 

643.  ' '  I  have  been  a  member  of  your  church  for  thirty  years, ' ' 
said  an  elderly  Christian  to  his  pastor,  ' '  and  when  I  was  laid  by 
with  sickness,  only  one  or  two  came  to  see  me.  I  was  shame- 
fully negledted."  "My  friend,"  said  the  pastor,  "in  all  those 
thirty  years,  how  many  sick  have  you  visited?"  "O,"  he  re- 
plied, ' '  it  never  struck  me  in  that  light.  I  thought  only  of  the 
relation  of  others  to  me,  and  not  of  my  relation  to  them." 

Common  enough  is  this  sort  of  lop-sided  religion. 


Debating  Pi^ans  Instead  of  Working. 

644.  There  was  once  a  stuttering  blacksmith,  and  he  had  a 
stuttering  apprentice.  One  day,  standing  at  the  forge,  the  black- 
smith took  out  from  the  fire  a  piece  of  hot  iron,  laid  it  on  his 
anvil,  and  lifted  his  hammer  to  strike ;  on  the  other  side  stood  the 
apprentice,  and  he  lifted  his  sledge,  also ;  but  both  of  them  stood 
silent  and  inactive.  Then  the  blackvSmith  said  to  the  apprentice, 
"  W-w-w-why  d-d-d-don't  you  strike  .^'"  The  apprentice  replied, 
* '  W-w-w- where  shall  I  strike  ? ' '    And  the  blacksmith  said, 

N-n-n-never  mind,  it's  c-c-c-cold  now! " 


Cast  Out  the  Devii.  First. 

645.  A  good  deacon,  overhearing  an  altercation  between  his 
son  and  one  of  his  hired  men,  came  up  to  see  what  the  trouble 
was. 

"You  left  the  pasture  bars  down." 

"I  didn't.    It's  some  of  your  miserable  fence  mending." 
"The  fence  was  well  mended.    It's  as  good  a  fence  as  any- 
body's." 

"Well  (in  a  louder  tone),  how  did  the  cattle  get  into  that  com, 
then,  I'd  like  to  know." 


•254 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


There  the  cattle  were,  in  the  corn,  eating  and  destroying  it,  and 
the  farmer's  son  and  servant  stood  disputing  how  they  got  in. 

At  this  point  the  deacon  suddenly  made  his  appearance.  * '  Go 
and  drive  otit  those  cattie,''  he  cried,  "and  do  your  talking  after- 
wards ! ' ' 

There  is  no  time  for  long  sermons  when  an  evil  spirit  is  tor- 
menting a  man.  Cast  out  the  devil  first.  That  was  the  way  Christ 
did. 


Not  an  Unusuai.  Tai^ent. 

646.  There  was  once  a  man  who  wanted  to  be  made  a  ruling 
elder  in  a  church.  His  pastor  began  to  question  him  about  his 
qualifications  for  the  office. 

' '  Can  you  teach  ? ' ' 

"  No,  I  am  not  educated." 

*  *  Well,  what  can  you  do  ?  " 

*  *  If  anything  is  brought  up  in  the  session  that  I  do  not  like,  I 
think  I  can  manage  to  raise  an  objection." 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  a  good  many  men  are  like  him. 


*'I'i.i.  Send  a  Hand." 

647.  A  minister  once  urged  a  good  farmer  in  his  church  to 
come  out  and  co-operate  in  the  meetings ;  and  now  particularly 
to  be  at  one  of  special  appointment.  He  assented ;  and  as  the 
pastor  left,  thinking  he  had  gained  a  point,  the  farmer  shouted, 
"If  I  do  not  come,  I'll  send  a  hand." 


"LrONG  ON  THE  Way." 

648*  Some  time  ago,  a  boy  was  discovered  in  the  streets, 
evidently  bright  and  intelligent,  but  sick.  A  man  who  had  the 
feeling  of  kindness  strongly  developed,  went  to  him,  shook  him 
by  the  shoulder,  and  asked  him  what  he  was  doing  there. 

"Waiting  for  God  to  come  for  me,"  said  he. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  said  the  gentleman,  touched  by  the 
pathetic  tones  of  the  answer  and  the  condition  of  the  boy,  in 
whose  eye  and  flushed  face  he  saw  the  evidence  of  the  fever. 

"God  sent  for  father  and  mother  and  little  brother,"  said  he, 
"and  took  them  away  to  his  home  up  in  the  sky,  and  mother 
told  me,  when  she  was  sick,  that  God  would  take  care  of  me.  I 
have  no  home,  nobody  to  give  me  anything,  and  I  came  out  here, 


RE;VIVAI.  ANECDOTi:S. 


255 


and  have  been  looking  so  long  up  in  tlie  sky  for  God  to  take  me, 
as  mother  said  he  would.  He  will  come,  won't  he?  Mother 
never  told  a  lie. ' ' 

"Yes,  my  lad,"  said  the  man,  overcome  with  emotion.  "He 
has  sent  me  to  take  care  of  you." 

You  should  have  seen  his  eyes  flavSh,  and  the  smile  of  triumph 
break  over  his  face,  as  he  said,  "  Mother  never  told  a  lie,  sir;  but 
you  have  been  so  long  on  the  way. ' ' 


lyOsiNG  One's  Pi.ace  in  the  Kingdom. 

649.  Said  a  father  of  his  son,  who  was  occupying  a  com- 
paratively subordinate  place  in  the  management  of  his  great 
business:  "I  had  intended  that  my  son  should  have  been  my 
successor  in  the  ownership  and  management  of  my  business,  but 
the  training  for  it  was  hard  and  somewhat  severe,  and  would 
have  taken  him  away  from  many  of  the  current  pleasures  of  his 
associates;  and  he  was  not  willing  to  make  the  sacrifice.  The 
result  is,  that  he  has  had  to  take  a  lower  place ;  for  he  is  not  now 
competent  to  take  charge  of  the  business."  Too  many  Chris- 
tians are  occupying  subordinate  positions  in  God's  kingdom  who 
ought  to  have  been  leaders,  doing  great  things  for  their  L^ord. 


(5.)  CHILDREN. 


"Jesus  Wants  *um." 

650.  In  a  Sunday-school  where  all  the  children  were  expe(5ted 
to  repeat  a  text  of  Scripture,  a  very  small  boy  commenced  the 
verse,  "Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them 
not ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God, ' '  but  through  embarrass- 
ment could  onl3^  get  as  far  as  "Suffer  the  little  children."  He 
started  again,  and  was  only  able  to  add  the  words,  "to  come." 
The  third  time,  with  more  energy,  he  began  and  ended  as  follows : 
"  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  for — Jesus  wants  'um 
all  to  come,  and  don't  any  of  you  big  folks  stop  'um!" 


EARI.Y  Conversions. 

651.  Matthew  Henry  was  converted  at  the  age  of  eleven, 
Jonathan  Edwards  at  seven,  and  Isaac  Watts  at  nine. 


256 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


"Mohammed  Did  Not  I^ove  Litti^e  Giri.s." 

652.  An  English  lady,  writing  from  Syria,  saj'S  that  the  Mo- 
hammedan girls  there  are  continually  singing  our  beautiful  hymns 
in  Arabic.  "Safe  in  the  Arms  of  Jesus,"  is  a  great  favorite.  A 
little  INIoslem  girl  accounted  for  her  preference  for  the  Christian 
religion  by  sa3'ing:  "I  like  3- our  Jesus,  because  he  loved  little 
girls.  Our  Mohammed  did  not  love  little  girls."  With  unerring 
instin(5t,  she  had  seized  upon  at  least  one  of  the  great  differences 
betvv'cen  the  two  religions. 


The  Best  Christian  in  the  House. 

653.  A  lady  working  in  an  inquiry  meeting  found  a  little  boy 
not  more  than  five  years  of  age,  and  found  that  he  was  indulging 
a  hope  in  Christ.  Supposing  him  to  be  one  of  the  new  converts, 
she  asked  him  how  long  he  had  been  a  Christian.  His  quick  re- 
ply was,  "O,  I  have  been  a  Christian  ever  since  I  was  a  little 
boy !  "  "  But, ' '  said  she,  ' '  you  are  only  a  little  bo3^  now. ' '  A  tall 
man  who  had  been  looking  on  in  a  confident  manner,  said :  * '  That 
is  my  boy.  He  has  been  a  Christian  for  two  years  at  least ;  and 
about  the  best  Christian,  too,  in  the  house." 


"She  Took  the  Children." 

654.  A  little  boy  asked  his  mother  which  of  the  characters  in 
"Pilgrim's  Progress  "  she  liked  best.  She  replied,  "  Christian,  of 
course;  he  is  the  hero  of  the  story."  Her  son  said,  "I  don't, 
mother ;  I  like  Christiana  best ;  for  when  Christian  went  on  his 
pilgrimage,  he  started  alone ;  but  when  Christiana  went,  she  took 
the  children  with  her. ' ' 


Christ  and  His  IvAmbs. 

655.  In  a  Chinese  Christian  family,  at  Amoy,  a  little  boy,  the 
youngest  of  three  children,  on  asking  his  father  to  allow  him  to 
be  baptized,  was  told  that  he  was  too  young — that  he  might  fall 
back  if  he  made  a  profession  when  he  was  only  a  little  boy.  To 
this  he  made  a  touching  reply:  "Jesus  has  promised  to  carr^^  the 
lambs  in  his  arms.  I  am  only  a  little  boy;  it  will  be  easier  for 
Jesus  to  carry  me."  This  logic  of  the  heart  was  too  much  for 
the  father.  He  took  him  with  him,  and  the  child  was  ere  long 
baptized. 


RKvivAi.  ane:cdotes. 


257 


The  Young  Officer. 

656.  A  brilliant  young  officer,  who  often  talked  and  prayed 
with  his  soldiers,  was  shot  dead  upon  his  horse  while  leading  his 
force  to  battle.  He  was  brought  home  for  burial.  His  widowed 
mother  was  a  noble  woman.  I  saw  her  hanging  over  his  remains. 
She  did  not  say,  ' '  Why  did  I  let  you  go  ?  "  but  she  did  say  in  that 
agonizing  farewell :  "I  have  wronged  him.  I  have  wronged  him. 
When  he  was  ten  years  old,  he  was  hopefully  converted.  He 
wanted  to  join  the  church.  But  I  said  to  him,  'You  are  too 
young,'  and  so  he  was  always  under  a  cloud,  and  often  shrinking 
from  open  religious  duties." 


He  Saved  Them 

657.  A  Christian  man  was  ahvays  watching  for  favorable 
seasons.  Many  a  revival  began  in  his  own  breast.  At  any  signs 
of  special  interest  his  heart's  cry  was,  "  This  is  the  time  for  which 
I  have  prayed  and  wept  and  toiled. ' '  Then  the  great  passion  and 
business  of  his  soul  was  the  saving  of  his  eleven  children.  They 
w^ere  all  brought  into  the  church.  Several  of  them  are  now 
preachers  of  the  gospel. 


The  Devii,  Wiee  Not  Negeect. 

658*  A  lad^^  was  once  talking  with  an  archbishop  upon  the 
subjed;  of  juvenile  education,  and,  after  some  time,  the  lady  said, 
''Well,  my  lord  archbishop,  as  for  myself,  I  have  made  up  my 
mind  never  to  put  my  child  under  religious  instrucftion  until  he 
has  arrived  at  years  of  discretion."  He  replied,  "  If  yozc  negledl 
your  child  all  that  time,  the  Devil  will  not." 


''Peays  eike  a  Christian." 

^59»  "I  once  heard  of  two  little  children,"  said  a  Sunday- 
school  speaker,  "a  boy  and  girl,  who  used  to  play  a  great  deal 
together.    They  were  converted. 

"One  day  the  boy  came  to  his  mother,  and  said,  'I  know  that 
Emma  is  a  Christian.' 

"  '  What  makes  you  think  so,  my  child  ? ' 

"  'Because,  mother,  she  plays  like  a  Christian.' 

' ' '  Plays  like  a  Christian ! '  said  the  mother.  The  expression 
sounded  a  little  odd. 

17 


.258 


THE  GOSPKL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


"'Yes,'  replied  the  child,  'if  you  take  ever3'thiiig-  she's  got, 
she  doesn't  get  angry.  Before,  she  was  selfish;  and  if  she  didn't 
have  ever3'thing  her  own  way,  she  would  say,  "I  won't  play 
with  you;  you  are  an  ugly  little  boy."  '  " 


"The  End  of  His  Reeigiox." 

66o*  There  was  once  an  officer  of  a  church  who  was  very 
bitterl}^  opposed  to  a  certain  boy  being  received  into  the  church ; 
whenever  it  was  proposed,  he  strongly  obje(5led.  But  at  last,  the 
pastor's  good  counsel  prevailed,  and  the  boy  was  received.  The 
next  morning  the  pastor  heard  the  door-bell  ring  as  if  the  house 
were  afire.  He  hastily  descended,  and  found  the  office-bearer  out 
of  breath,  and  greatly  excited.  ' '  That  boy  you  took  into  the 
church,"  said  he,  "I  saw  coming  down  the  hill  this  morning, 
playing  horse  as  hard  as  he  could!  I  guess  that's  the  end  of  his 
religion  ! ' ' 

This  good  man,  it  would  appear,  was  greatly  troubled  because 
the  little  boy  was  taking  exercise  in  the  pure  morning  air. 


Outdone  by  a  Boy. 

A  lad  in  Boston,  rather  small  for  his  years,  worked  in 
an  office  as  errand  boy  for  four  gentlemen  who  did  business  there. 
One  day  the  gentlemen  were  chaffing  him  a  little  about  being  so 
vSmall,  and  said  to  him  :  — 

"  You  never  will  amount  to  much;  you  can  never  do  much  busi- 
ness; 3'ou  are  too  small." 

The  little  fellow  looked  at  them.  "Well,"  said  he,  "as  small 
as  I  am,  I  can  do  something  which  none  of  you  four  men  can  do." 

"Ah,  what  is  that?"  said  they. 

"I  don't  know  as  I  ought  to  tell  you,"  he  replied.  •  But  they 
were  anxious  to  know,  and  urged  him  to  tell  what  he  could  do 
that  none  of  them  were  able  to  do. 

"■I  can  keep  from  swearing!'''  said  the  little  fellow.  There 
were  some  blushes  on  four  manly  faces,  and  there  seemed  to  be 
very  little  anxiety  for  further  information  on  the  point. 


"I  WiEE  Shut  my  Byes." 

662.  In  the  South  of  France  there  are  many  fetes,  at  which 
they  have  bull-fights,  and  these  are  often  held  on  Sunday. 


RKVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


259 


A  Sunday-school  scholar,  who  had  a  wicked  father,  determined 
that  he  would  not  go  to  a  bull-fight.  His  father  wanted  him  to 
go  to  one,  and  asked  him  if  he  would  not  go  with  him — if  he 
would  not  as  soon  go  there  as  go  to  Sunday-school.  The  boy 
said,  "  No,  I  would  rather  go  to  Sunday-school." 

"Well,"  said  the  father,  ''yoic  shall  go  with  me.  Doesn't  your 
teacher  tell  3^ou  to  obey  your  parents  ? ' ' 

The  boy  said,  "Father,  I  will  go  with  you,  because  you  com- 
mand me ;  but  /  will  shut  my  eyes.'' 

That  reply  conquered  the  heart  of  the  father ;  and  he  was  after- 
ward converted. 


"Try  the  I^ittle  Keys." 

663.  Returning  home  one  evening  with  a  friend,  we  were 
about  to  enter  the  front  door,  when  we  found  that  the  key  was 
lost.  There  was  no  one  in  the  house,  and  we  were  obliged  to  bor- 
row keys  of  the  neighbors  to  try.  None  of  the  large  keys  on  any 
bunch  fitted  the  lock,  and  I  had,  no  thought  of  tr3dng  the  others. 

At  last  I  said,  ' '  No  wse ;  we  will  break  out  a  pane  of  glass  and 
raise  a  window." 

My  friend  said,  "Try  the  little  keys." 

"Why,"  I  replied,  "that  can  do  no  good — they  are  all  too 
short."  And  while  saying  this,  I  used  one  of  the  small  ones,  and 
felt  the  bolt  move  slowl}',  and  as  the  door  opened  we  both  laughed 
at  the  surprise. 

So  Christian  effort  has  often  reached  and  won  an  unwilling 
family  by  beginning  with  a  child.  Don't  overlook  the  "little 
kieys." 


CH11.DREN  Putting  Parents  to  Shame- 

<>64.  In  the  North  Platte  district  there  was  a  small  school 
concerning  which  the  adults  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it 
was  impossible  to  keep  it  up  through  the  severe  weather.  The 
children  were  not  of  that  mind.  They  came  to  the  school.  No 
superintendent,  no  officer,  no  teacher,  no  adiilt  was  present.  There 
they  were,  without  a  leader.  One  of  the  older  bo3^s,  who  had  taken 
a  great  interest  in  the  school,  determined  to  have  school — to  go 
through  with  it  and  make  the  best  of  it.  One  hymn  they  had 
learned  by  heart,  and  could  sing  without  the  book.  They  sang  it. 
The  boy  then  read  a  portion  from  the  Bible — the  lesson  for  the 
day.  Pie  knew  that  it  was  customary  next  to  offer  prayer.  Here 
was  a  difficulty.  The  boy  trembled  and  grew  pale ;  but  he  felt 
that  it  had  to  be  done ;  so  he  said,  with  a  faltering  voice,  ' '  lyct  us 


2G0 


THt;  GusPKi^  worker's  treasury. 


pray,"  and  began  with,  "Our  Father,  who  art  in  heaven,'  and 
his  voice  choked;  he  broke  down  and  cried,  and  the  children  cried 
with  him.  Then  he  gave  expression  to  one  agonizing  groan  for 
help  and  finished  the  prayer  as  well  as  he  could.  They  went 
through  the  lesson,  sang  another  hymn  that  they  knew,  and  closed 
the  school.  The  children  went  home  and  told  their  parents  what 
they  had  done;  how  the  boy  cried,  and  they  could  not  help  crying 
with  him,  and  the  parents  said,  "  If  God  has  given  us  such  chil- 
dren, it  is  a  shame  for  us  to  leave  them  alone;  we  must  keep  that 
school  in  operation ! ' ' 


"Papa,  I  Can't  Stay  There;  Without  You." 

665.  Recently  a  little  girl,  frail,  but  very  bright  and  spiritual, 
bowed  with  an  older  sister  at  the  altar  of  prayer.  Her  father,  a 
highly  respe(5ted  lawyer,  sat  in  his  pew.  After  a  brief  prayer,  the 
child  rose  from  her  knees,  went  to  the  father,  put  her  arms  about 
his  neck  and  whispered,  "Papa,  I  can't  stay  there  without  you." 
The  father  was  deeply  moved,  and  permitted  his  little  one  to  lead 
him  forward  as  a  penitent.  The  effe(5l  upon  the  audience  was 
w^onderful.  Many  at  once  rose  and  asked  the  prayers  of  God's 
people.  This  event  marked  the  turning-point  in  the  meetings, 
and  it  was  but  a  short  time  till  more  than  fifty  had  been  happily 
converted  to  God. 


A  CH11.D  as  a  Revivalist. 

666.  There  is  a  story  of  a  little  New  England  girl,  ten  years 
of  age,  whose  mother  had  been  converted  under  the  preaching  of 
Whitefield,  and  who  received  such  a  revelation  of  Divine  love  to 
herself  that  she  could  not  help  telling  of  it  to  all  she  met.  She 
begged  her  mother  to  let  her  go  to  the  neighbors  and  talk  about 
the  Savior. 

"Ah,  my  child,"  said  the  mother,  "  that  would  be  useless,  for  I 
suppose  that  were  you  to  tell  your  experience,  there  is  not  one 
within  many  miles  who  would  not  laugh  at  you,  and  say  it  was 
all  a  delusion." 

"Oh,  mother,"  replied  the  little  girl,  "I  think  they  would  be- 
lieve me.  I  must  go  over  to  the  shoemaker,  and  tell  him ;  he  wdll 
believe  me." 

She  ran  over,  and  found  him  at  work  in  his  shop.  vShe  began 
by  telling  him  that  he  must  die,  and  that  he  was  a  sinner,  and 
that  she  was  a  sinner,  but  that  her  blessed  Savior  had  heard  her 
m.other's  prayers,  and  had  forgiven  all  her  sins,  and  now  she  was 
so  happy  she  did  not  know  how  to  tell  it. 


REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


261 


The  shoemaker  was  struck  with  surprise,  and  his  tears  flowed 
down  like  rain;  he  threw  aside  his  work,  and  by  prayer  and  sup- 
plication sought  mercy.  The  neighborhood  was  awakened,  and 
within  a  few  months,  more  than  fifty  persons  found  Jesus,  and  re- 
joiced in  his  love. 


What  a  Chii.d  can  Do. 

667.  Rev.  M.  R.  Drury  tells  the  following  incident:  Said  a 
father  who  was  rejoicing  in  his  new-found  peace  with  God:  "  My 
children  led  me  to  the  church  and  to  Christ.  They  first  gave 
their  hearts  to  the  Savior  and  then  they  said,  'Papa,  won't  you 
be  a  Christian,  too?'  So  here  I  am,  saved  by  the  blood  of  the 
Jyamb,"  he  added,  with  tears  of  joy  in  his  eyes. 


A  lyiTTLE  Boy's  Sermon. 

668.  The  little  son  of  a  gentleman  of  high  literary  standing 
.sat  in  his  study  one  day,  seemingly  in  deep  meditation.  Sud- 
denly looking  up  into  his  father's  face,  he  said,  "Papa,  how  old 
are  you?  "  "Fifty-six,  my  son,"  was  the  reply.  "How  old  was 
grandpa  when  he  died  ?  "  "  Sixty,  I  believe. "  "  Well,  papa,  are 
you  a  Christian?"  "I  don't  think  I  am,  my  son."  "Hadn't 
you  better  become  one  now,  dear  papa  ?  You  haven't  much  time 
to  wait  before  you  will  be  as  o/d  as  grandpa  was  when  he  died.'' 
Says  the  father:  "The  little  fellow  came  close  up  to  me,  and 
begged  me  to  love  Jesus.  I  have  heard  sermons  all  my  life,  but 
never  such  a  powerful  one  as  from  my  little  boy,  sitting  here  by 
the  fire  yesterday  afternoon." 


The  Infidel  IvAwyer's  Chied. 


669.  An  infidel  lawyer,  who  had  successfully  resisted  all  at- 
tempts to  lead  him  to  accept  Christ,  was  one  evening  greeted  by 
his  six-year-old  daughter,  on  his  return  home  from  the  office, 
with_ the  question :  "Papa,  why  don't  you  love  JCvSus  ?  He  was 
so  kind  to  die  for  us — how  can  you  help  loving  him  ?"  Thus, 
with  great  tenderness,  she  pleaded  with  him  to  come  to  Christ. 
When  she  was  about  to  retire,  she  begged  her  father,  who  was  in 
the  room,  to  let  her  kneel  down  and  pray  with  him.  This  was 
too  much  for  even  his  proud  heart.  His  little  daughter's  words 
were  more  potent  than  all  the  arguments  or  sermons  he  had  ever 
hieard.  He  became  an  earnest,  working  Christian,  of  great  influ- 
ence and  usefulness. 


262 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  treasury. 


The  Gambler  and  His  Child. 

670.  A  gambler,  who  had  been  all  over  the  East  and  the 
North  with  fast  horses,  and  had  been  a  participant  in  almost 
ever3^  kind  of  vice  and  debanchery,  hid  his  bottle  of  brandy  in 
his  ha^'-mow,  after  a  drunken  spree!  It  was  found  one  day  by  his 
little  bo3',  who  brought  it  to  him,  and  told  him  where  he  had  dis- 
covered it,  sajdng  that  he  supposed  some  vagabond  had  left  it 
there.  That  comparison  was  a  home-thrust,  and  from  that  date 
he  sought  an  interest  in  Christ. 


The  Work  oe  a  Penny. 

671.  A  lady,  who  was  a  Sunday-school  teacher,  wanted  to> 
make  up  a  box  of  things  to  be  sent  to  a  missionary  in  India.  One 
Sunday  she  named  it  to  her  class,  and  asked  them  if  there  was 
an\-thing  they  would  like  to  put  in.  One  little  girl  very  much 
wanted  to  help,  but  she  had  only  a  penny  to  give.  At  last  she 
made  up  her  mind  to  buy  a  tracT;  with  it,  and  send  it.  She  did 
so.  It  reached  the  missionarj'.  His  wife  had  a  young  chief  from 
the  mountains  of  Burmah  in  school.  She  taught  him  to  read; 
and,  when  the  time  came  for  him  to  leave  and  go  home,  she  gave 
him  some  books  and  traAs  to  take  with  him.  Among  them  was 
the  very  tracT:  which  the  little  girl  had  sent ;  it  caused  him  to  see 
the  folly  of  heathenism,  and  led  him  to  Christ.  He  went  home  a 
Christian;  but  that  was  not  all;  he  told  the  vStory  to  his  friends. 
They  listened.  God  blessed  the  wwds.  More  came  and  heard 
him  speak.  They  gave  up  idolatry,  a  missionary  was  sent,  a 
church  built,  a  congregation  gathered,  and  fifteen  hundred  per- 
sons became  Christians. 


"jEsus  Must  Love  to  Come  Here." 

672.  A  little  girl  went  with  her  mother,  a  woman  in  lowly 
circumstances,  as  she  had  occasion  to  call  on  a  wealthy  lady  in  a 
neighboring  city.  The  lady  felt  quite  an  interest  in  the  child, 
and  took  her  all  over  the  house  to  show  her  all  the  beauties  and 
wonders  of  her  comfortable  home.  Much  vSurprised  at  all  she 
saw,  the  little  thing  exclaimed : 

"  Wh3^,  how  beautiful!  I  am  sure  Jesus  must  love  to  come 
here;  it  is  so  pleasant.  Doesn't  he  come  here  very  often  ?  He 
comes  to  our  house,  and  we  have  no  carpet  at  home.  O,  how 
Jesus  must  love  to  come  here  !  " 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


263 


The  hostess  made  no  reply,  and  her  visitor  asked  again,  ' '  Doesn't 
Jesus  come  here  very  often  ? ' ' 

Then,  with  much  emotion,  the  lady  replied,  "I  am  afraid  not." 

That  was  too  much  for  the  child ;  she  hastened  to  her  mother, 
and  begged  to  be  taken  home,  for  she  was  afraid  to  stay  in  a 
house  where  Jesus  did  not  come.  That  night  the  lady  related  to 
her  husband  the  whole  circumstance,  and  the  question  of  the 
child  went  to  the  hearts  of  both  husband  and  wife,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  Jesus  was  made  a  guest  in  their  house. 


A  L1TT1.E  GiRi.  Praying  eor  Her  Father. 

673.  A  father,  coming  home  at  an  unusual  hour  one  day,  heard 
his  little  girl,  Mary,  praying  for  him.  It  brought  him  under  great 
conviction  for  sin,  and  he  went  down  vStairs,  and,  telling  his  wife 
that  he  felt  very  strangely,  asked  if  there  were  not  a  Bible  in  the 
house.  It  was  found,  and  the  wife  read  at  his  request,  choosing 
the  fifty-third  psalm.  Then  he  asked  her  to  pray  for  him,  but  she 
could  not,  and  little  Mary  was  called  in  to  pray  for  her  papa.  As 
the  results  of  her  prayer,  both  her  father  and  mother  were  brought 
into  the  kingdom,  and  they  were  a  united  family  in  the  I^ord. 


Praying  Chiedren. 

674.  In  a  town  in  Western  New  York,  two  little  sisters  with 
their  little  brother  were  returning  from  an  afternoon's  children's 
meeting,  when  one  of  them  said,  ' '  I  wish  we  could  get  father  to 
go  to  the  meeting  for  grown-up  people  to-night."  "How  can  we 
do  it?"  "I'll  tell  3'ou,"  said  the  little  boy,  "we'll  all  pray  for 
him."  "  But  where  can  we  get  a  good  place  to  pray  for  him " 
"Why,  you  go  into  the  parlor,  where  father  hardly  ever  goes,  and 
I  will  go  off  out  to  the  barn." 

So  into  the  parlor  the  two  girls  went,  and  knelt  down  and  began 
to  pray.  While  they  were  pleading  most  earnestly,  the  father, 
who  was  a  farmer,  came  in  from  the  field,  and,  iUvStead  of  going 
round  the  back  way,  started  to  pass  right  through  the  parlor;  but 
as  he  opened  the  door  quietly,  they  did  not  hear  him.  He  listened 
a  minute,  and  felt  he  could  not  go  through  that  room.  Away  he 
went  to  the  barn,  and  there,  too,  iip  on  the  hay-mow,  he  heard  his 
boy's  voice  in  pleading  prayer.  As  the  little  fellow  slid  down 
from  the  mow,  his  father  put  his  hands  upon  his  head,  and  w^ith 
tears  said,  "  Oh,  pray  for  me;  I  will  go  to  the  meeting."  And  so 
he  did ;  and  what  is  better  still,  he  came  to  Jesus. 


264 


the;  gospei.  worker's  treasury. 


Praying  for  His  Grandfather. 

675.  Paris  R.,  living  in  Virginia,  found  peace  in  believing 
when  he  was  eight  3'ears  old.  At  a  camp-meeting,  held  when  h^e 
was  nine  years  old,  he  was  called  on  to  pray  in  public  nearly  as 
often  as  an 3'  of  the  men,  and  prayed  with  much  greater  eftecft  than 
many  of  them.  During  that  camp-meeting  Paris'  grandfather  be- 
came awakened  to  see  his  lost  condition  as  a  stranger  to  God,  and 
asked  his  little  grandson  to  pray  for  him.  He  was  soon  converted, 
and  Paris  rejoiced  in  the  salvation  of  his  aged  grandfather,  who 
was  so  near  the  grave. 


Poor  Johnny's  Prayer. 

676.  An  English  paper  tells  the  story  of  James  Smith,  who 
worked  in  a  navy-yard  on  the  Thames,  and  his  little  boy,  Johnny. 
James  was  a  very  intemperate  man.  After  the  death  of  his  wife, 
sorrow  kept  him  sober  for  a  little  while,  but  he  took  to  his  cups 
again,  and,  as  poor  Johnny  expressed  it,  ' '  got  badder  and  badder 
all  the  time. ' ' 

One  night  the  drunkard  awoke  (a  most  uncommon  thing  for 
him  at  such  an  hour),  and  lay  very  still,  for  he  heard  a  sound.  It 
was  his  motherless  boy  praying  by  his  bedside.  He  heard  him 
say,  "Please,  God,  make  daddy  a  better  man,  for  Jesus'  sake." 

James  Smith  could  not  sleep  any  more.  He  rose  very  early  and 
went  to  his  work.  He  came  home  early  that  night  without  having 
drank  a  drop  of  liquor.  His  heart  was  melted.  Said  he  to  Johnny, 
' '  What  put  it  into  your  head  to  pray  for  3'our  worthless  old  dad  ? ' ' 

Johnny  told  him  that  it  was  because  he  loved  him  ;  and  besides 
he  had  been  to  a  Sunday  class  where  the  teacher  taught  him  the 
commandment,  ' '  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother. ' ' 

' '  Then  keep  on  prayin' ,  keep  on  prayin' ,  little  lad, ' '  said  James. 
"I  believe  God  has  answered  you  already;  I've  been  praying  for 
myself  that  God  would  make  me  a  better  man." 

The  prayer  was  answered.  James  Smith  reformed,  and  from 
that  time  lived  a  steady.  Christian  life. 


The  Match-Boy. 

677.  Dean  Stanley,  in  one  of  his  sermons  to  children  at  West- 
minster Abbey,  told  the  following  very  touching  little  story:  Not 
long  ago,  in  Edinburgh,  two  gentlemen  were  standing  at  the  door 
of  a  hotel,  one  very  cold  day,  when  a  little  boy,  with  a  poor,  thin, 
blue  face,  his  feet  bare  and  red  with  the  cold,  and  with  nothing 


REVIVAL  ANKCDOTBS. 


265 


to  cover  him  but  a  bundle  of  rags,  came  and  said,  ''Please,  sir, 
buy  some  matches."  "No,  don't  want  any,"  the  gentleman  said. 
"But  they  are  only  a  penny  a  box,"  the  poor  little  fellow  pleaded. 
"Yes,  but  you  see  we  don't  w^ant  a  box,"  the  gentleman  said 
again.  "Then  I  will  gie  ye  twa  boxes  for  a  penny,"  the  boy 
said  at  last ;  and  so,  to  get  rid  of  him,  the  gentleman  who  tells 
the  story  says:  "I  bought  a  box,  but  then  I  found  I  had  no 
change ;  so  I  said,  *  I  will  buy  a  box  to-morrow. '  *  Ob ,  do  buy 
them  to-night,  if  you  please,'  the  boy  pleaded  again;  'I  will  run 
and  get  ye  the  change,  for  I  am  verra  hungry. '  So  I  gave  him 
the  shilling,  and  he  started  away.  I  waited  for  him,  but  no  boy 
came.  Then  I  thought  I  had  lost  my  shilling;  still,  there  was 
that  in  the  boy's  face  I  trusted,  and  I  did  not  like  to  think  bad  of 
him.  Late  in  the  evening  I  was  told  a  little  boy  wanted  to  see 
me ;  when  he  was  brought  in,  I  found  it  was  a  smaller  brother  of 
the  boy  who  got  my  vShilling,  but  if  possible  still  more  ragged 
and  poor  and  thin.  He  stood  for  a  moment,  diving  into  his  rags, 
as  if  he  were  seeking  something,  and  then  said,  'Are  you  the 
gentleman  that  bought  the  matches  frae  Sandie  ? '  '  Yes.'  '  Weel, 
then,  here's  fourpence  out  o'  yer  shilling.  Sandie  cannot  come; 
he's  very  ill;  a  cart  ran  ower  him  and  knocked  him  down,  and 
he  lost  his  bonnet  and  his  matches  and  your  sevenpence,  and  both 
his  legs  are  broken,  and  the  dodlor  says  he'll  die;  and  that's  a'.' 
And  then,  putting  the  fourpence  on  the  table,  the  poor  child  broke 
down  into  great  sobs.  So  I  fed  the  little  man,  and  I  went  with  him 
to  see  Sandie.  I  found  that  the  two  little  things  lived  alone,  their 
father  and  mother  being  dead.  Poor  Sandie  was  lying  on  a  bun- 
dle of  shavings.  He  knew  me  as  soon  as  I  came  in,  and  said,  'I 
got  the  change,  sir,  and  was  coming  back,  and  then  the  horse 
knocked  me  down,  and  both  my  legs  w^ere  broken.  And,  oh, 
Reuby!  little  Reuby!  I  am  sure  that  I  am  dying,  and  who  will 
take  care  of  you  when  I  am  gone  ?  What  will  you  do,  Reuby  ?  * 
Then  I  took  his  hand  and  said  I  would  always  take  care  of  Reuby. 
He  understood  me,  and  had  just  strength  to  look  up  at  me,  as 
if  to  thank  me;  the  light  went  out  of  his  blue  eyes.  In  a  mo- 
ment,— 

*■  '  He  lay  within  the  light  of  God 
Like  a  babe  upon  the  breast, 
Where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling, 
And  the  weary  are  at  rest.'  " 


"Somebody  Might  Have  Slipped." 

678.  A  lady  was  walking  quietly  along  the  city  street  not 
long  ago,  when  the  door  of  a  house  flew  open,  and  a  boy  shot  out 
with  a  w^hoop  like  a  wild  Indian.    Once  on  the  pavement,  he 


266 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY, 


danced  a  sort  of  double-shuffle  all  around  a  curb-stone,  and  then 
raced  down  the  street  in  great  haste,  for  it  was  evident  by  the 
books  under  his  arm  that  he  was  going  to  school.  The  lady  was 
thinking  what  thoughtless,  nois}^  creatures  health}'-  boys  always 
are,  when  jUvSt  a  few  3-ards  before  her  she  saw  something  ^'^ellow 
lying  on  the  stones.  Coming  nearer  she  fancied  it  was  a  pine 
shaving,  and  looked  after  the  boy  again.  She  saw  him  suddenly 
stop  short  in  a  crowd  of  people  at  a  crossing,  and  come  back  as 
fast  as  he  had  gone,  so  that  just  before  she  reached  the  shaving  he 
did,  and  picked  up  not  a  shaving  at  all,  but  a  long,  slimj^  banana- 
skin.  Flinging  it  into  a  refuse-barrel,  he  waited  only  long  enough 
to  say,  "Somebody  might  have  slipped  on  it,"  and  was  off  again. 

He  had  not  slipped  himself ;  he  was  far  past  the  danger ;  and 
when  one  is  in  a  hurry,  it  is  a  great  bother  to  go  twice  over  the 
same  ground,  but  for  the  sake  of  this  unknown  somebody  the 
hurr^'ing  boy  came  back.  He  might  have  said,  "  I  can't  wait  to 
go  back;  it  is  none  of  my  doing,  and  so  it  is  none  of  my  busi- 
ness."   But  he  made  it  his  business. 


Jessie  Finding  Jesus. 

679.  A  little  girl  in  a  wretched  tenement  in  New  York  stood 
by  her  mother's  death-bed  and  heard  her  last  words:  "Jessie, 
find  Jesus." 

When  her  mother  w^as  buried,  her  father  took  to  drink,  and 
Jessie  was  left  to  such  care  as  a  poor  neighbor  could  give  her. 

One  day  she  wandered  off  unmissed,  with  a  little  basket  in  her 
hand,  and  trudged  through  one  street  after  another,  not  knowing 
where  she  went.  She  had  started  out  to  find  Jesus.  At  last  she 
stopped,  from  utter  weariness,  in  front  of  a  saloon.  A  j^oung  man 
staggered  out  of  the  door  and  almost  stumbled  over  her.  He  ut- 
tered passionately  the  name  of  Him  whom  she  was  seeking. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  he  is  "  she  inquired  eagerly. 

He  looked  at  her  in  amazement. 

' '  What  did  you  saj^  ?  "  he  asked. 

' '  Will  you  please  tell  me  where  Jesus  Christ  is  ?  for  I  must  find 
him" — this  time  with  great  earnestness. 

The  young  man  looked  down  at  her  curiously  for  a  minute 
without  speaking,  and  then  his  face  sobered,  and  he  said  in  a 
broken,  hUvSky  voice,  hopelessly,  "I  don't  know,  child,  I  don't 
know  where  he  is." 

At  length  the  little"  girl's  wanderings  brought  her  to  the  park. 
A  woman,  evidently  a  Jewess,  was  leaning  against  the  railing, 
looking  disconsolately  at  the  green  grass  and  the  trees. 

Jessie  went  up  to  her  timidh' .    ' '  Perhaps  she  can  tell  me  where 


REvivAiv  anecdote:s. 


267 


he  is,"  was  the  child's  thought.  In  alow,  hesitating  voice,  she 
asked  the  woman,  "Do  you  know  Jesus  Christ ? " 

The  Jewess  turned  fiercely  to  face  her  questioner,  and  in  a  tone 
of  suppressed  passion,  exclaimed,  "Jesus  Christ  is  dead!" 

Poor  Jessie  trudged  on,  but  soon  a  rude  boy  jostled  against  her, 
and,  snatching  her  basket  from  her  hand,  threw  it  into  the  street. 
Crying,  she  ran  to  pick  it  up.  The  horses  of  a  passing  street-car 
trampled  her  under  their  feet — and  she  knew  no  more  till  she 
found  herself  stretched  on  a  hospital  bed. 

When  the  docliors  came  that  night,  they  knew  she  could  not 
live  until  morning.  In  the  middle  of  the  night,  after  she  had 
been  h'ing  very  still  for  a  long  time,  apparently  asleep,  she  sud- 
denly opened  her  eyes,  and  the  nurse,  bending  over  her,  heard  her 
whisper,  while  her  face  lighted  up  with  a  smile  that  had  some  of 
heaven's  own  gladness  in  it:  — 

"  O  Jesus,  I  have  found  3^ou  at  last!" 

Then  the  tiny  lips  were  hushed,  but  the  questioning  spirit  had 
received  an  answer. 


"Does  This  Railroad  Lead  to  Heaven?" 

680.  Rev.  J.  M.  Dosli,  now  in  heaven,  used  to  tell  the  follow- 
ing incident.  A  conduclor  taking  up  the  tickets  on  a  Western 
train,  came  to  a  little  girl  and  found  that  she  was  alone  and  with- 
out a  ticket.  He  asked,  ' '  Where  are  you  going  ?  ' '  She  answered, 
"  I  am  going  to  heaven.  Doesn't  this  railroad  lead  to  heaven,  and 
doesn't  Jesus  travel  on  it?"  The  condudlor  answered,  "I  think 
not.  Why  did  you  think  so?"  "Why,  sir,  before  m}^  ma  died, 
she  used  to  sing  to  me  of  a  heavenly  railroad,  and  how  Jesus  paid 
the  fare  for  everybody ;  and  that  the  train  stopped  at  every  sta- 
tion to  take  people  on  board.  You  looked  so  nice  and  kind,  I 
thought  this  was  the  road.  But  my  ma  don't  sing  to  me  any 
more,  and  I  thought  I'd  take  the  cars  and  go  to  ma  in  heaven. 
Mister,  do  you  sing  to  3'our  little  girl  about  the  railroad  that  goes 
to  heaven  ?  You  have  a  little  girl,  haven't  you  ? ' '  The  condu(5lor 
replied,  M-eeping,  "No,  I  have  no  little  girl  now.  I  had  one  once, 
but  vShe  died  some  time  ago,  and  went  to  heaven."  Again  she 
asked,  "Did  she  go  over  this  railroad,  and  are  you  going  to  see 
her  now?"  By  this  time  all  the  people  in  the  coach  had  been 
deeply  impressed.  Addressing  the  conducSlor  again,  she  asked : 
"  Do  you  love  Jesus?  I  do,  and  if  you  love  him,  he  will  let  you 
ride  to  heaven  on  his  railroad.  Wouldn't  3'ou  like  to  see  heaven, 
and  Jesus,  and  your  little  girl  ?  I  am  going  there,  and  wish  you 
would  go  with  me."  After  a  few  minutes  vShe  again  spoke  up: 
"What  shall  I  tell  your  little  girl  when  I  see  her?  Shall  I  tell 
her  that  I  saw  her  pa  on  Jesus"  railroad?"    The  condudlor,  em- 


26S 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY, 


bracing  lier,  wept  the  reply  he  could  not  utter,  and  within  a  few 
liours  was  soundly  converted.  Within  three  da3'S  the  little  girl 
suddenly  died,  without  apparent  disease,  in  the  home  of  persons 
in  that  car  who  befriended  her.  The  condu(5lor  continues  to  live 
a  consistent  Christian  life. 


(6.)  TEMPERANCE. 


Can't  Get  the  GospeIv  In." 

68x.  An  experience  of  ' '  Camp-meeting  John  Allen  ' '  with  a 
penitent  rumseller,  in  the  days  of  his  earlier  ministry,  illustrates 
the  wnsdom  of  heroic  treatment. 

At  one  of  his  meetings,  among  those  who  came  forward  for 
prayers  was  a  man  with  red  face  and  rum  breath,  not  sober 
enough  to  understand  the  gravity  of  the  occasion,  but  still  seri- 
ously in  earnest  about  his  salvation. 

This  man  kept  a  little  shop,  and  among  other  things  sold  a 
little  new  rum,  but  was  his  own  best  customer.  Mr.  Allen  went 
to  his  shop  one  day,  and  expostulated  with  him  about  the  matter, 
but  he  said  he  could  not  afford  to  lose  what  rum  he  had  on  hand. 

Finally,  Allen  agreed  to  buy  it,  if  he  would  seek  the  Lord  then 
and  there,  and  kneel  down  and  pray  for  himself. 

As  they  knelt  down,  the  minister  turned  the  faucet,  and  set  the 
rum  to  running.  This  was  too  much  for  the  penitent,  and  he 
cried  out  on  his  knees,  "It's  wasting,  it's  wasting." 

"Let  it  waste,"  said  Allen,  as  he  kicked  it  out  doors,  took  a 
Iiatchet  and  burst  in  the  end  of  the  cask. 

"It  ain't  measured,"  said  the  man. 

"  Guess  at  it,  and  be  sure  to  guess  enough,"  said  Alien. 
Thus  the  battle  was  won,  and  the  man  became  temperate  and 
religious. 

Next  day  some  of  the  church  members  said  they  thought 
Brother  Allen  "came  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  not  to  spend  his 
time  kicking  out  rum-barrels." 

"You  can't  get  the  gospel  in  till  you  kick  the  rum  out,"  said 
the  preacher. 


'Lord,  Keep  Me." 

682.   John  B.  Gough  used  to  tell  the  following  incident :  — 
"A  gentleman  had  got  so  far  into  drinking  that  he  was  known 


i 


REJVIVAI.  ANE:CD0TES. 


269 


to  drink  a  quart  of  brandy  a  day.  He  was  a  fine  business  man, 
and  yet  be  was  ruining'  bimself  in  tbe  estimation  of  those  who 
knew  him  well.  One  day,  when  in  the  house,  he  said,  '  Wife, 
come  sit  on  my  knee.'  She  sat  there,  and  then  said,  'If  my  hus- 
band didn't  drink,  I  would  be  the  happiest  woman  in  Canada.' 
*  Well,  my  dear,'  he  replied,  'I  married  you  to  make  you  happy, 
and  I  never  will  drink  another  drop  as  long  as  I  live.'  Now, 
that  man  cut  it  off  as  square  as  a  piece  of  cheese,  and  kept  it  for 
eight  years  without  any  belief  in  Christianity.  Walking  down 
the  street  with  him,  a  little  while  ago,  he  said :  '  Do  you  see  that 
red-front  drinking-saloon  ?  Well,  I  have  been  afraid  of  that  for 
many  years,  and  used  to  go  around  it;  but,  Mr.  Gough,  since  I 
have  got  the  grace  of  God  in  my  heart,  I  go  right  by  that  saloon; 
and  if  I  have  the  slightest  desire,  I  breathe  an  ejaculatory  prayer, 
"Ivord,  keep  me,  for  Christ's  sake,"  and  go  by  it  safely.'  " 


The  Drunkard's  Eternity. 

683.  Helen  Chalmers,  the  daughter  of  the  famous  Dr.  Chal- 
mers, of  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh,  gave  her  life,  after  his  death, 
to  the  reclaiming  of  the  most  vicious  elements  in  the  latter  city. 
Visiting,  one  day,  she  met  a  drunken  man,  who  suggested  that 
in  the  Day  of  Judgment  he  would  stand  as  good  a  chance  as  any 
one  else.  Miss  Chalmers  opened  her  Bible  and  read  the  passage, 
*' No  drunkards  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God."  The  man 
was  sobered  in  a  moment,  signed  the  pledge,  and  was  saved. 


**Eet's  Drink  to  Your  Better  Eiee." 

684.  A  prominent  New  York  merchant,  originally  an  English- 
man, never  sat  down  to  his  table  without  his  wine  and  iDrandy, 
and  his  three  sons,  in  consequence,  all  grew  up  drunkards.  One 
became  so  abandoned  that  his  father  cast  him  out  of  the  house. 
At  last  some  temperance  people  brought  about  his  reformation, 
and  he  came  to  see  his  father  on  New-year's  day.  The  old  gentle- 
man said:  "My  son,  I'm  delighted  to  see  you  again;  I'm  glad 
you  have  reformed."  Thoughtlessly,  he  said,  "Eet's  drink,  to 
your  better  life,  one  glass  of  sherry."  The  young  man  hesitated 
a  moment,  and  then  thought  he  would  take  just  one  glass.  The 
old  appetite  revived,  and  that  night  the  father  found  him  dead 
drunk  in  his  stable. 


270 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


"What  Father  Takes." 

685.  A  little  bo3'  was  sitting  with  his  father  at  the  hotel  table. 
The  waiter  asked  him,  "What  will  3-ou  drink.?"  "I  will  take 
what  father  takes. "  "  Well, ' '  said  the  father,  ' '  I  will  take  water. ' ' 
It  is  best  to  do  what  3'ou  want  3'our  bo3'  to  do. 


The  RumseivLEr's  Sox. 

686.  How  can  a  father  who  is  a  slave  to  Satan  himself  expedt 
to  keep  his  children  free  ? 

A  rumseller  in  Grafton,  N.  H.,  had  a  son,  a  bright,  promising 
bo3',  whom  he  regarded  with  pride  and  affedtion.  For  a  long  time 
the  father  kept  his  son  awa3-  from  the  bar.  But  at  length,  in  the 
pressure  of  business,  love  and  prudence  gave  wa3^  to  avarice,  and 
the  son  was  made  bar-tender.  The  father  took  the  son  behind  the 
bar,  and,  pointing  to  a  long  row  of  bottles,  said,  "Do  3'ou  see 
those  bottles  ?  "  "  Yes,"  said  the  son.  "Well,  there's  poiso?i  in 
ever3"one!  T/iej^e  is  poison  in  every  07it!  Don'tyoic  ever  drink 
a  drop — not  a  drop  ! ' ' 

But  the  influence  of  the  bar  proved  too  strong  for  the  father's 
counsel.  Example  is  mightier  than  precept.  The  son  drank,  and 
went  down,  through  descending  steps  of  sin  and  shame,  till  he 
died  a  miserable  drunkard. 


Intercession  of  a  Child. 

687.  Rev.  J.  W.  Hott,  D.  D.,  relates  the  following  incident:— 
A  little  bo3^,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  cit3'  of  Dayton,  had  been 
allowed  to  go  out,  after  an  attack  of  the  measles,  and  was  taken 
worse.  Death  was  fast  working  to  a  close  the  short  problem  of 
his  frail  life.  His  mother  came  into  the  room,  and,  going  softly 
to  his  bed,  found  him  crv'ing  as  if  his  heart  would  break.  "Why 
do  3'OU  cr3',  m3^  darling?"  fell  on  his  ears  from  his  mother's  lips. 
' '  I  was  pra3-ing  to  the  Lord  that  father  would  quit  drinking  when 
I  die,"  was  his  tender  answer.  The  mother  sat  down  beside  his 
bed  and  wept  sorrowfulh'.  B3^  and  b3'  his  father  came  into  the 
chamber,  and,  as  he  approached  the  bed  of  the  little  sufferer,  he 
saw  that  the  child  Avas  cr3-ing.  ' '  What  makes  3'OU  cr3'  so  ?  "  was 
asked  b3'  the  father.  "Oh,  I  was  pra3'ing  to  Jesus  that  3'ou 
would  not  drink  an3-  more  when  I  am  dead,"  was  the  soft  and 
fevered  response.  I  know  not  if  the  father  ceased  to  drink  when 
the  darling  boy  was  laid  awa3^  in  the  tomb,  but  thousands  of  lit- 


RKvivAi.  anecdote:s. 


271 


tie  forms  on  earth  and  in  heaven  are  asking  Jesus  that  fathers 
and  mothers  may  come  to  him  and  be  saved.  Oh,  these  pleadings 
of  tender,  loving  hearts ! 


An  Incide:nt  from  Gough. 

688.  ' '  When  in  Ohio,  I  was  passing  from  one  town  to  another, 
and  on  going  to  the  station,  I  found  a  vacant  seat  in  the  cars.  They 
were  very  much  crowded.  I  said  to  a  gentleman,  '  May  I  sit  by 
you  ? '  '  Yes,  Mr.  Gough,  you  may.  I  am  very  glad  to  have  you 
for  a  fellow-traveler.'  'Thank  you  for  your  courtesy.'  'I  heard 
you  speak  last  night.  I'm  a  pretty  hard  drinker.  I  look  like  it, 
don't  I  '  '  Somewhat. '  '  I  am  worth  some  property,  but  I  might 
be  worth  many  thousands,  where  I  am  only  worth  ten  to-day. 
I'm  a  pretty  rough  charadter,  but  I  always  consider  myself  a  man 
of  my  word.  When  I  left,  after  your  ledlure,  I  went  home,  and 
said  to  my  wife,  * '  I  think  I  will  never  drink  another  drop  of  liquor 
as  long  as  I  live."  I  thought  she  would  be  tickled  at  it,  but  she 
burst  out  crying,  and  dropped  on  her  knees.  I  didn't  like  it.  I 
am  not  that  sort.  I  haven't  been  on  ni}'  knees  since  I  was  eight 
years  old;  and  as  for  the  inside  of  a  church,  I  don't  know  what  it 
is.  I  didn't  like  it,  and  said,  "What  are  you  on  your  knees  for  ? " 
I  went  to  bed  sulky;  got  up  this  morning,  and  I  wanted  whisky. 
I  had  never  promised  my  word  to  anybody  before,  and  I  had  done 
so  now;  and  I  am  a  man  of  my  word.  I'm  going  to  see  about  a 
piece  of  property  I  bought  when  drunk.  I'm  going  right  among 
the  drink  and  into  temptation ;  and  I  would  rather  be  carried  home 
dead,  to-night,  than  carried  home  drunk.  I  want  whisky  now,  but 
I  don't  mean  to  have  it.  I  tried  to  eat  my  breakfast,  this  morning, 
but  the  more  I  chewed  it,  the  bigger  it  grew.  I  wanted  whisky. 
I  felt  that  I  must  have  whisky,  and  I  knew  where  I  was  going.' 
Then  the  tears  came,  and  the  lip  quivered,  as  he  said,  'Well,  Mr. 
Gough,  you  may  think  it  very  queer  of  me,  but  I  have  been  on  my 
knees  this  morning  over  an  hour. '  '  Have  3'ou  ? '  '  Yes. '  '  Then, ' 
I  said,  'keep  there,  and  you  will  go  home  sober,  if  you  do.  No 
man  ever  drank  a  glass  of  liquor  in  this  world  while  honestly 
praying  God  to  keep  him  from  it.'  There  is  safety  there;  but 
all  the  rest  is  risk.  He  may  keep  the  pledge  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  but  he  does  it  at  a  risk.  Thus  we  bring  the  intemperate 
not  only  to  fight  the  battle,  but  to  trust  in  God  for  the  vidlory." 


Tpie  Proofs  at  Homk. 

689.  Home  is  the  place  to  begin,  when  the  proofs  of  one's 
conversion  are  sought  for. 


272  THE  GOSPKI.  WORKER'S  TREASURY.  * 

"How  is  your  father  getting  on  now?"  said  Mr.  Gough  to  a 
little  daughter  of  a  man,  fornierl}^  a  drunkard,  but  whom,  some 
months  ago,  he  had  persuaded  to  sign  the  pledge. 

"He  is  getting  along  very  well,"  was  her  reply. 

"Has  he  kept  his  pledge  ? " 

"O,  3'es,"  she  joyfully  replied. 

' '  Are  3'ou  sure  he  has  ? ' ' 

"Yes,  sir,  I  am  quite  sure." 

"How  is  it  that  you  are  so  positive  on  this  point  ?"  asked  Mr. 
Gough. 

"Why,"  said  she,  and  her  face  was  radiant  with  joy,  "he 
never  alDUses  mother  any  more;  we  have  always  plenty  to  eat; 
and  he  never  takes  my  shoes  off  to  pawn  them  for  the  drink  now. 
This  is  why  I  know  it,  sir. ' ' 

With  a  wise  and  tender  judgment,  Jesus  sent  the  freed  slave 
of  Satan  back  to  the  bosom  of  his  family,  to  begin  his  new  life 
there,  and  to  preach  there  the  gospel  of  his  cure.  Not  every 
saved  soul  can  be  a  foreign  missionary,  but  every  saved  soul  can 
be  an  evangelist  at  home. 


Why  a  Pittsburg  Man  Went  Out  of  the  IvIQuor  Business. 

690.  "  I  hear  that  Smith  has  sold  out  his  saloon,"  said  one 
of  a  couple  of  middle-aged  men  who  sat  sipping  their  beer  and 
eating  a  bit  of  cheese  in  a  Smithfield  Street  saloon  on  Friday 
night. 

"Yes,"  responded  the  other,  rather  slowly. 

"What  was  the  reason  ?  I  thought  he  w^as  just  coining  money 
there. ' ' 

The  other  nibbled  a  cracker  abstra<5ledly  for  a  moment,  and  then 
said:  — 

"  It's  rather  a  funny  story.  Smith,  you  know,  lives  on  Mount 
W^ashington,  right  near  me,  w^here  he  has  an  excellent  wife,  a 
nice  home,  and  three  as  pretty  children  as  ever  played  out  d^bors — 
all  boys,  you  know,  the  oldest  not  over  nine,  and  all  about  the 
same  size.  Smith  is  a  pretty  respectable  sort  of  a  citizen,  never 
drinks  or  gambles,  and  thinks  the  world  of  his  family. 

"Well,  he  went  home  one  afternoon  last  week  and  found  his 
wife  out  vShopping,  or  something  of  that  sort.  He  went  on  through 
the  house  into  the  back  yard  and  there,  under  an  apple  tree,  were 
the  little  fellows  pla3dng.  They  had  a  bench  and  some  bottles 
and  tumblers,  and  were  playing  'keep  saloon.'  He  noticed  that 
they  w^ere  drinking  something  out  of  a  pail,  and  that  they  acfted 
tipsy,.  The  youngest,  who  was  behind  the  bar,  had  a  towel  tied 
around  his  waist,  and  was  setting  the  drinks  up  prettj^  free.  Smith. 


RKVIVAIv  ANECDOTES, 


273 


walked  over  and  looked  in  the  pail.  It  was  beer,  and  two  of  the 
boys  were  so  drunk  that  they  vStaggered.  A  neighbor's  boy,  a 
couple  of  years  older,  lay  asleep  behind  a  tree. 

"  '  My  God,  boys,  you  must  not  drink  that !'  he  said,  as  he  lifted 
the  six-year-old  from  behind  the  bench. 

"  '  We's  playin'  saloon,  papa,  an'  I  was  a  sellin'  it  just  like  you,' 
said  the  little  fellow.  Smith  poured  out  the  beer,  carried  the 
drunken  buy  home,  and  then  took  his  own  boys  and  put  them  to 
bed.  When  his  wife  came  back,  she  found  him  crying  like  a  child. 
He  came  back  down  town  that  night  and  sold  out  his  business, 
and  says  he  will  never  sell  or  drink  another  drop  of  liquor.  His 
wife  told  mine  about  it,  and  she  broke  down  crying  while  she 
told  it." 

This  is  a  true  story,  but  the  name  was  not  Smith. 


"The  IvAst  oe  Thirty  Thousand  Doi.i.ars." 

691.  A  banker's  clerk  said  at  a  Y.  M.  C.  A.  prayer-meeting 
recently?  that,  while  counting  a  package  of  money,  he  noticed  a 
twenty-dollar  bill  on  which  was  written  with  an  indelible  pencil : 
"  This  is  the  last  of  thirty  thousand  dollars.    Whisky  did  it." 


An  Engineer's  Story. 

692.  **I  should  like  to  speak  with  you  a  moment,  sir,"  said 
he,  one  morning,  as  I  passed  through  his  room. 

"Well,  John,  what  now?"  I  said,  drawing  out  my  note  book. 
"Cylinder  oil  all  gone  ?" 

"It's  about  myself,"  he  replied. 

I  motioned  him  to  proceed. 

"Thirty-two  years  ago  I  drank  my  first  glass  of  liquor,"  said 
the  engineer,  "and  for  the  past  ten  years,  up  to  the  last  month, 
no  week  has  passed  without  its  Saturday-night  drunk.  During 
those  years  I  was  not  blind  to  the  facft  that  appetite  was  getting 
a  frightful  hold  upon  me.  At  times  my  struggles  against  the 
longing  for  stimulant  were  earnest.  My  employers  once  offered 
me  a  thousand  dollars  if  I  would  not  touch  liquor  for  three  months, 
but  I  lost  it.  I  tried  all  sorts  of  antidotes,  and  all  failed.  My 
wife  died  praying  that  I  might  be  rescued,  yet  my  promises  to  her 
were  broken  within  two  days.  I  signed  pledges  and  joined  so- 
cieties, but  appetite  was  still  my  master.  My  employers  reasoned 
with  me,  discharged  me,  forgave  me,  but  all  to  no  effedf .  I  could 
not  stop,  and  I  knew  it.   When  I  came  to  work  for  you,  I  did  not 

18 


274 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


•expedl  to  stay  a  week ;  I  was  nearly  done  for ;  but  now ! ' '  and  the 
-old  man's  face  lighted  up  with  an  unspeakable  joy,  "in  this  ex- 
tremity, when  I  was  read}^  to  plunge  into  hell  for  a  glass  of  rum, 
I  found  a  sure  remedy- !    I  am  saved  from  my  appetite ! ' ' 
* '  What  is  3'our  remedy  ? ' ' 

The  engineer  took  up  an  open  Bible  that  la}^  face  down,  on  the 
-window  ledge,  and  read :  — 

"The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin." 


"Give  Me  Back  My  Husband." 

A  young  wife,  the  drunkenness  of  whose  husband  had 
broken  her  heart,  in  her  despair  went  to  the  saloon  where  her 
husband  procured  his  drink,  and,  with  broken  voice,  cried  out  to 
the  owner,  "Give  me  back  my  husband!"  "There's  3'our  hus- 
band," said  the  man.  "That  m3^  husband!  What  have  you 
done  to  him  ?  What  have  3-0U  done  to  that  noble  form,  to  the 
sinews  of  that  manly  arm,  to  that  noble  brow,  to  that  eye,  in 
which  once  was  my  delight  ?  AVhat  EgA'ptian  drug  have  3-ou 
poured  into  his  veins,  and  turned  the  fountains  of  his  heart  into 
black  and  burning  pitch?  Give  me  back  m^^  husband!  Undo 
your  basilisk  spells,  and  give  me  back  the  man  that  stood  with 
me  beside  the  altar ! " 


"Handed  it  AlIv  up  to  God." 

694.  "\ATien  I's  dressed  for  de  grave,  de  marks  which  5'our 
whisky  made  m^'  husband  make  on  me  will  be  found  on  m3^  body. 
I's  nuthin'  but  a  poor  nigger,  and  j^ou's  a  fine  white  gentleman, 
but  I've  handed  it  all  up  to  God,  and  in  a  comin'  day  you'll  have 
to  meet  this  poor  nigger's  complaint." 

That  is  what  a  negro  woman  said  to  a  man  who  had  sold  whisky 
to  her  husband. 


What  Rum  WilIv  Do. 

^95»  Some  \^ears  ago,  in  one  of  the  counties  of  New  York,  a 
worthj^  man  was  tempted  to  drink  until  drunk.  In  the  delirium 
of  drunkenness,  he  went  home  and  murdered  his  wife  in  a  most 
barbarous  manner.  He  was  carried  to  jail  while  drunk,  and  kept 
there  through  the  night.  Awaking  in  the  morning  and  looking 
around  upon  the  walls,  and  seeing  the  bars  upon  the  windows,  he 
exclaimed :  — 

"Is  this  a  jail.^" 


RKVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


275 


Yes,  you  are  in  jail,"  answered  some  one. 
' '  What  am  I  here  for  ?  ' '  was  the  earnest  inquiry. 
' '  For  murder, ' '  was  the  answer. 
*'Does  my  wife  know  it  ?  " 

'  *  Your  wife  know  it !  "  answered  some  one.  ' '  Why,  it  was  your 
'wife  that  you  have  murdered ! ' ' 

On  this  announcement  he  dropped  suddenly,  as  if  he  had  been 
struck  dead.  Let  it  be  remembered  that  the  constable  who  carried 
him  to  jail  sold  him  the  liquor  which  caused  his  drunkenness; 
Ihe  justice  who  issued  the  warrant  was  one  of  those  who  signed 
his  license ;  the  sheriff  who  hung  him  also  sold  liquor  and  kept  a 
ten-pin  alley. 


(7.)    CHRISTIAN  REWARDS. 


Minding  God's  Business. 

1^96.  Queen  Elizabeth  requested  a  merchant  to  go  abroad  on 
Jier  service,  and  when  he  mentioned  that  his  business  would  be 
Tuined,  she  replied,  "You  mind  my  business,  and  I  will  mind 
yours."    If  we  will  but  care  for  God's  cause,  he  will  care  for  us. 


An  Unexpected  Reward. 

697.  A  European  gentleman  writes  to  the  editor  of  a  news- 
paper as  follows:  — 

"Baron  James  de  Rothschild  once  sat  for  a  beggar  to  Ary 
Scheffer.  While  the  great  financier,  attired  in  the  rags  of  a  beg- 
gar, was  in  his  place  in  the  estrade,  I  happened  to  enter  the  studio 
of  the  great  artist,  whose  friend  I  had  the  honor  to  be.  The 
Earon  was  so  perfe(ftly  disguised  that  I  did  not  recognize  him, 
and,  believing  that  a  veritable  beggar  was  before  me,  I  w^ent  up 
to  him  and  slipped  a  louis  into  his  hand.  The  pretended  model 
took  the  coin  and  put  it  into  his  pocket.  Ten  yeafs  later  I  re- 
-ceived,  at  my  residence,  an  order  on  the  ofiice  in  the  Rue  Lafitte 
for  ten  thousand  francs,  inclosed  in  the  following  letter:  'Sir— 
You  one  day  gave  a  louis  to  Baron  Rothschild  in  the  studio  of 
Ary  Scheffer.  He  has  employed  it,  and  to-day  sends  you  the 
little  capital  with  which  you  intrusted  him,  together  with  its  in- 
terest. A  good  acftion  always  brings  good  fortune.  Baron  James 
DE  RoTHSCHiivD.'  On  receipt  of  this  order  I  sought  the  billion- 
aire, who  proved  to  me,  from  the  books  before  him,  that  under 


27G 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


his  manag-einent  my  louis  had  adlually  frucflified  so  as  to  have 
swelled  to  the  large  sum  sent  me. ' ' 

So  Christ  is  walking  through  the  world  in  the  guise  of  a  beg- 
gar,— hungry,  naked,  and  outcast.  Blessed  are  we  if  we  give  to- 
the  Master  in  the  person  of  these  his  poor  brethren. 


Jesus  Went  With  Her. 

698.  A  little  girl,  of  only  six  summers,  had  been  given  up 
by  the  physician.  When  her  weeping  father  told  her  she  must 
die,  she  exclaimed,  **Tell  mamma  to  go  down  into  the  grave 
with  me;  it  looks  so  dark."  When  her  father  told  her  that  her 
mamma  could  not  go  with  her,  she  asked,  "Papa,  won't  you  go 
with  me  ?  "  When  he  sadly  told  her  he  could  not,  she  turned  her 
face  to  the  wall  and  seemed  deeply  engaged  in  prayer.  In  a  few 
moments  she  turned  around,  and,  with  a  face  illumined  with  an 
angelic  smile  she  said,  "I  know  that  you  and  mamma  cannot 
go  with  me  into  the  grave,  but  Jesus  has  just  whispered  to  me 
that  he  will  go  with  me,  and  now  I'm  not  afraid."  Her  death, 
was  a  joyful  one. 


Dying  Words. 

699.  A  Christian  passed  away  to  his  crown  with  these  joy- 
ful 3^et  broken  whispers:  "Valley — Shadow — Home — Jesus — 
Peace." 


The  Death  oe  the  Righteous. 

700.  Talmage  tells  of  a  funeral  in  a  crowded  church,  where 
there  was  but  one  really  happy  face,  and  that  was  the  face  of  the 
dead,  sleeping,  'mid  white  flowers.  Through  a  wild  snow-storm 
he  went  to  her  dying-bed.  Parent  and  lover  stood  by  the  beauti- 
ful girl.  They  were  broken  with  grief,  but  she  was  full  of  joy. 
"Tell  all  the  young  folks,"  said  vshe,  "that  religion  will  make 
them  happy !  "  'Mid  the  wailing  of  grief  in  that  darkened  cham- 
ber, rang  out  her  cheerful  good-by :  "We'll  meet  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river! " 


A  Child's  Death-Bed. 

701.  In  a  prayer-meeting  in  Brooklyn,  a  gentleman  from  Mor- 
ristown,  New  York,  related  the  following  incident  of  the  death 
of  a  little  boy : — 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


277 


*'  He  was  a  Sunday-school  boy.  He  was  seized  suddenly  with 
diphtheria,  and  soon  became  speechless.  Just  before  he  died,  his 
parents,  with  the  physician,  stood  by  his  side,  but  he  could  not 
utter  a  word.  At  length  he  looked  up  to  his  father;  a  sweet 
smile  was  on  his  face;  he  lifted  his  two  hands,  put  one  forefinger 
into  the  palms  of  his  hands,  then  touched  his  feet,  then  drew  a 
line  with  his  finger  across  his  forehead,  and  sank  back  with  a 
look  of  calm  resignation. 

* '  His  father  could  not  understand  this  movement,  and  turning 
to  the  do(5lor,  said,  '  What  can  that  mean  ? ' 

"The  dodlor  went  up  to  the  bed,  and  leaning  over  the  dying 
boy,  said,  'Do  you  mean  the  Savior,  and  what  he  suffered  for 
man  on  the  cross  ? ' 

* '  A  smile  of  grateful  joy  lighted  up  the  pallid  features.  A  slight 
inclination  of  the  head  gave  the  assent,  and  then  he  passed  away, 
to  join  that  Savior  who  gathers  the  lambs  in  his  arms  and  car- 
ries them  in  his  bosom.  A  more  touching  recognition  of  the 
wounded  Redeemer  and  his  presence  at  a  dying-bed  I  have  sel- 
dom heard  of." 


FaitheuIv  Unto  Death. 

702.  Some  two  hundred  years  ago,  there  was  a  dark  period 
•of  suffering  in  Scotland,  when  deeds  of  bloody  cruelty  were  com- 
mitted on  God's  people,  not  out-done  by  Indian  butcheries.  One 
day,  the  tide  is  flowing  in  the  Solway  Frith,  rushing  like  a  race- 
horse, with  snowy  mane,  to  the  shore.  The  shore  is  occupied  by 
groups  of  weeping  specftators.  They  keep  their  eyes  fixed  on  two 
objeAs  out  upon  the  wet  sands. 

There  two  women,  each  tied  fast  by  her  arms  and  limbs  to  a 
stake,  stand  within  the  sea  mark,  and  many  an  earnest  prayer  is 
going  up  to  heaven  that  Christ,  who  bends  from  the  throne  to  the 
sight,  would  help  them  now  in  their  hour  of  need.  The  eldest 
of  the  two  is  staked  farthest  out.  Margaret,  the  young  martyr, 
stands  bound,  a  fair  sacrifice,  near  by  the  shore.  Well,  on  the 
big  billows  come,  hissing  to  their  naked  feet;  on,  and  farther  on 
they  come,  death  riding  on  the  top  of  the  waves,  and  eyed  by 
those  tender  women  with  unflinching  courage.  The  waters  rise 
and  rise,  till,  amid  a  scream  and  cry  of  horror  from  the  shore, 
the  lessening  form  of  her  who  had  death  first  to  face  is  lost  in 
the  foam  of  the  surging  wave.  It  recedes,  but  only  to  return ; 
and  now,  the  sufferer  gasping  for  breath,  the  death-struggle  is 
begun;  and  now  for  Margaret's  trial,  and  her  noble  answer. 

"What  see  you  yonder?"  said  their  murderers,  as  while  the 
water  rose  cold  on  her  own  limbs,  they  pointed  her  attention  to 
lier  fellow-confessor,  in  the  suffocating  agonies  of  a  protradled 


278 


THE  GOSPEIv  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


death.  Response  full  of  the  boldest  faith  and  brightest  hopes^ 
she  answered :  — 

"  I  see  Christ  suffering  in  one  of  his  own  members." 


"I  Know  Where  He  is  Going." 

703,  A  young  lady  who  was  engaged  to  a  young  clergyman 
was  entreated  by  her  friends  not  to  marry  him,  urging  that  his 
previous  history  was  little  known.  "True,"  replied  the  lady, 
"  I  do  not  know  w^here  he  came  from,  but  I  know  where  he  i& 
going,  and  I  should  like  to  go  with  him." 


No  More  Pain. 

704.    On  Sabbath  evening,  one  Fourth  of  July,  a  dear  little 

girl,  five  months  old,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  The  next  day  a  man 
asked  her  little  four-year-old  brother  how^  she  was.  "  O,  God 
took  her  to  heaven  yesterday  to  make  her  well,"  was  his  quick 
reply.  Was  not  that  a  true  and  beautiful  answer.?  John  once 
heard  a  great  voice  out  of  heaven,  which  said,  "There  shall  be 
no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither  shall  there 
be  any  more  pain." 


"Whx\t  Have  You  Got  Up  Yonder?" 

705.    An  old  man  took  a  Christian  friend  up  to  the  top  of  his 

house,  and  pointing  with  his  hand,  he  said,  ' '  That  is  my  land 
as  far  as  you  can  see."  He  then  pointed  to  the  town  near  by, 
where  were  large  buildings,  and  said:  "The  whole  of  this  is- 
mine.  I  came  to  the  West  a  poor  boy,  and  have  earned  all  this 
myself."  When  he  w^as  through,  the  friend  said,  "Well,  what 
have  you  got  up  yonder?"  The  old  man's  countenance  fell,  and 
he  asked,  "What  do  you  mean?"  "What  have  you  got  in 
heaven?"  "I  haven't  got  anything  there."  A  millionaire  for 
time,  but  a  pauper  for  eternity ! 


"Nearey  Home." 

706.    * '  Almost  well,  and  nearly  home, ' '  said  the  dying  Baxter^ 
when  avSked  how  he  was,  by  a  friend. 
A  martyr,  when  approaching  the  stake,  being  questioned  as  to- 


RElVIVAIy  AN£;CDOTi:S. 


279 


how  he  felt,  answered,  "Never  better;  for  now  I  know  that  I  am 
almost  at  home."  Then  looking  over  the  meadows  between  him 
and  the  place  where  he  was  to  be  immediately  burned,  he  said, 
"Only  two  more  stiles  to  get  over,  and  I  am  at  my  Father's 
house." 

"Dying,"  said  the  Rev.  S.  Medley,  "is  sweet  work, sweet 
work — home !  home ! ' ' 

Another,  on  his  death-bed,  said,  "I  am  going  home  as  fast  as  I 
can,  and  I  bless  God  that  /  have  a  good  home  to  go  to'' 


Entered  Hbavkn  with  Praykr. 

707.  Alexander  Cruden,  well  known  as  the  author  of  the  in- 
valuable help  to  Bible  study, —  the  Concordance, — was  very  poor. 
What  little  profit  came  from  his  books  he  gave  away.  When 
about  seventy  years  of  age  he  was  found  at  his  humble  lodgings, 
kneeling  at  his  chair,  his  Bible  open  before  him,  his  face  calm 
and  peaceful,  but  his  spirit  gone  to  God. 

David  Livingstone,  the  great  explorer,  when  very  ill  of  his  last 
sickness,  was  left  for  a  little  while  alone  in  his  tent.  Upon  the 
return  of  his  men,  he  was  found  upon  his  knees.  They  paused  a 
moment,  but  he  moved  not ;  then  they  entered  and  touched  him, 
but  he  was  dead. 

A  medical  student  in  New  York  was  recently  missing  at  his 
breakfast  table.  He  was  sought  in  his  room.  The  bed  was  un- 
disturbed, and  he  was  kneeling  at  its  side,  cold  in  death. 


"From  the;  Poor-House;  to  Hkaven." 

708.  A  minister  of  the  gospel  was  one  day  visiting  a  pious 
old  woman,  who  was  in  the  poor-house.  While  in  conversation 
with  her,  he  saw  an  unusual  luster  beaming '  from  her  counte- 
nance, and  asked,  ' '  Will  you  tell  me  what  thought  it  was  that 
passed  through  your  mind  which  w^as  the  cause  of  your  appearing 
so  joyful?"  The  reply  of  the  old  disciple  was,  "O,  sir,  I  was 
just  thinking  what  a  change  it  will  be  from  the  poor-house  to 
heaven." 


A  Plunge;  Through  Darkness  Into  Glory. 

709.  A  chamois  hunter  of  the  Alps  climbed  one  of  the  moun- 
tain sides  in  pursuit  of  his  game ;  out  of  the  vale  of  Chamouni 
up  the  Mer  de  Glace,  up  among  the  snows  of  the  mountain  beyond. 


280 


THE)  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


Suddenl}"  the  snow  gave  way  beneatli  him,  and  he  fell  down,  down 
several  hundred  feet.  He  was  not  harmed,  but  as  he  arose  and 
looked  up,  he  saw  that  wall  of  ice  reared  on  each  side  towards  the 
sk}^,  and  the  blue  light  of  heaven  alone  looked  down  upon  him. 
How  hopeless  !  Better  that  he  had  died  at  once  than  in  that  tomb 
and  in  a  slow  death.  But  just  at  his  footsteps, — ran  on  the 
thread  of  a  stream.  A  thought  struck  his  mind.  Streams  some- 
times flow  from  out  the  glaciers  of  the  Alps,  bursting  from  their 
base  into  the  valley  beyond.  He  thought,  "I  will  follow  that  lit- 
tle thread  of  clear  snow  water ' ' ;  and  so  while  it  broadened  and 
deepened,  he  followed  on,  climbing  over  the  ice,  until  he  at  last 
came  to  the  broadened  pool  into  which  the  stream  sank  away. 
The  water  was  dark,  and  swirled  around  and  around,  and  sank  in 
the  center,  and  the  wall  on  the  other  side  reared  itself  before  him, 
and  all  was  lost.  The  thread  of  hope  seemed  extinguished  in 
that  dark  pool.  "But  no,"  he  says,  "there  is  one  chance  yet." 
He  kneeled  upon  the  snow;  he  cast  beside  him  all  his  trapments, 
and  lifted  his  heart  to  the  God  of  the  eternal  mountains.  He 
plunged  into  the  pool.  There  was  a  moment  of  darkness,  uncon- 
sciousness, and  then  he  was  thrown  upon  the  bosom  of  the 
stream,  in  the  midst  of  the  singing  birds  and  the  green  hills  and 
fields  and  blooming  flowers  of  Chamouni. 

So  shall  it  be  with  us  when  our  footsteps  trend  upon  the  dark 
pool.  It  shall  be  but  a  moment's  plunge  into  the  icy  depth,  a 
moment's  unconsciousness,  it  may  be,  and  then  into  the  vale 
whose  flov/ers  are  more  fragrant,  whose  fields  are  brighter  than 
any  Chamouni,  amid  the  songs  of  the  angels,  to  the  welcoming 
hands  of  God,  our  spirits  shall  joyfully  go. 


CAI.I.ING  THE  ROEI.  IN  HEAVEN. 

710.  An  incident  is  related  by  a  chaplain  who  was  in  the 
army.  The  hospital  tents  had  been  filling  up  as  fast  as  the 
wounded  men  had  been  brought  to  the  rear.  Among  the  number 
was  a  young  man  mortally  wounded,  and  unable  to  speak.  It 
was  near  midnight,  and  the  surgeons  had  been  their  rounds  of 
duty,  and,  for  a  moment,  all  was  quiet.  Suddenly  this  young 
man,  before  vSpeechless,  calls  in  a  clear,  distindt  voice,  "Here!" 
The  surgeon  havStened  to  his  side  and  asked  what  he  wished. 
' '  Nothing, ' '  said  he,  ' '  they  are  calling  the  roll  in  heaven,  and  I 
was  answering  to  my  name."  He  turned  his  head  and  was  gone 
—  gone  to  join  the  great  army  whose  uniform  is  washed  white  in 
the  blood  of  the  lyamb.  In  the  great  roll-call  of  eternity,  can  you 
answer,  ' '  Here ' '  ? 


re:vivai,  anecdotes. 


281 


"Is  This  Heaven?" 

711.  A  little  boy  who  liad  been  blind  from  infancy  was  taken 
to  a  physician  to  have  his  eyes  cured.  After  the  dodtor  had  cut 
away  the  obstru(5lion  from  his  eyes,  he  had  them  closely  bandaged 
for  a  few  days.  But  after  a  while  the  time  came  when  the  band- 
ages were  slowly  taken  off,  and  the  boy  opened  his  eyes.  For  a 
moment  he  stood  in  silent  wonder,  as  if  a  new  world  had  sud- 
denly become  visible  to  him.  Then,  as  the  familiar  voice  of  his 
mother  asked  him,  "Willie,  can  you  see?"  he  sprang  into  her 
^arms,  exclaiming,  "  O,  mamma,  is  this  heaven?" 


The  Joy  oe  Home-Coming. 

712.  Dr.  Pierre  states  that  once,  on  his  return  to  France  from 
a  long  voyage  to  India,  the  ship's  crew  were  so  excited  with  joy 
at  sight  of  their  native  land  that  they  became  unfit  for  duty.  As 
the  shores  grew  more  and  more  distincft,  some  of  the  sailors  stood 
wistfully  gazing,  some  dressed  themselves  in  their  best  clothes, 
some  talked,  some  wept.  But  as  the  vessel  drew  near  the  quay, 
and  they  began  to  recognize  their  wives  and  children,  parents 
and  friends,  waiting  for  them,  they  quite  abandoned  themselves 
to  the  delight  of  the  moment — and  another  gang  of  sailors  had 
to  be  sent  for  to  take  their  place. 


The  Cruel  War  was  Over. 

713.  When  I^ee  surrendered  to  Grant,  the  North  went  nearly 
wild  with  delight.  The  soldiers  at  the  front  had  even  more  reason 
for  rejoicing,  for  it  meant  to  them  rest  and  peace,  home  and  loved 
ones.  As  Captain  Ricks  bore  the  message  to  the  Twenty-third 
Army  Corps,  marching  through  North  Carolina,  the  army  aban- 
doned itself  to  its  joy,  and  yelled  and  danced,  and  shouted  and 
capered,  and  exhausted  its  ingenuity  in  finding  means  of  ex- 
pressing itself.  As  the  herald  flew  by,  one  man  cried  in  response, 
"My  God,  you're  the  man  I've  been  looking  for  for  the  past  four 
years." 

What  will  be  the  rapture  when  an  angel  shall  fly  through  the 
heavens,  announcing  the  final  vidlory  of  Christ  over  the  powers 
of  hell !  Kven  now  weary  hearts  are  longing  for  the  rustling  of 
his  wings. 


282 


THEJ  GOSPKI<  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


The  WeivCOme  Home. 

714.  In  1879,  a  large  number  of  Communists,  who  had  been 
amnestied,  returned  from  New  Caledonia.  When  the  train  ar- 
rived at  Paris,  a  large  crowd,  consisting  of  their  friends  and  rela- 
tives, were  in  waiting.  Mothers  welcomed  their  sons,  wives 
their  husbands,  sisters  their  brothers,  children  their  fathers.  It 
was  a  scene  of  gladness  and  tears,  afre(fting  beyond  expression. 
But  what  will  be  the  rapture  of  that  heavenly  welcome,  when 
friends  long  sundered  meet  to  part  no  more. 


Occupied  with  Jesus. 

715,  An  old  Welsh  minister,  while  one  day  pursuing  his 
studies,  his  wife  being  in  the  room,  was  suddenly  interrupted  by 
her  asking  him  a  question,  which  has  not  always  been  so  satis- 
fa(5torily  answered:  "John  Evans,  do  you  think  we  shall  be 
known  to  each  other  in  heaven?"  Without  hesitation,  he  re- 
plied, "To  be  sure  we  shall;  do  you  think  we  shall  be  greater 
fools  there  than  we  are  here?"  After  a  momentary  pause,  he 
again  proceeded :  ' '  But,  Margaret,  I  may  be  a  thousand  years  by 
your  side  in  heaven,  without  having  seen  you;  for  the  first  thing 
which  will  attracft  my  notice  when  I  arrive  there,  will  be  my  dear 
Savior,  and  I  cannot  tell  whe7i  I  shall  be  for  a  moment  induced  to 
look  at  any  other  object."  John  and  INIargaret  are  now  in  heaven; 
and  perhaps  they  have  yet  had  hardly  time  to  look  out  for  one 
another. 


(8.)    CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 


Results  of  Disobedience. 

716.  An  aged  man  in  Rhode  Island  related  how  his  negledt 
of  joining  church  had  left  his  Christian  life  in  darkness.  He  and 
his  wife  were  to  relate  their  experience  before  the  church,  prepara- 
tory to  being  received  as  members,  when,  just  as  they  were  leav- 
ing the  house,  a  neighbor  called  on  some  business,  and  his  wife 
was  obliged  to  go  alone.  By  the  time  he  was  ready  to  follow  her, 
it  was  too  late.  She  related  her  experience,  and  was  baptized  the 
following  Sunday.  When  the  time  for  the  next  monthly  meeting 
came,  business  again  detained  him.    The  third  opportunity  found 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


283 


him  unready  and  disinclined.  He  had  begun  to  doubt  if  he  were 
a  Christian.  The  tender  sense  of  nearness  to  Christ,  which 
gradually  left  him  after  his  first  negledl,  never  returned  to  him. 
"And  now,"  said  he,  *'I  am  about  fourscore  years  old,  walking 
in  darkness.  Had  I  the  world,  I  would  give  it  for  a  return  of  that 
impressive  sense  of  my  obligation  to  God  which  should  lead  me 
to  do  the  long-negledled  duty. ' ' 


"Get  In  Somewhere." 

717,  A  little  girl,  who  had  been  recently  converted,  was  one 
day  talking  with  her  grandfather,  who  was  questioning  her  about 
her  new  faith.  Finally  she  said,  *'  Grandpapa,  are  you  a  Chris- 
tian ?  "  "Yes,  my  dear,  I  hope  I  am."  "What  church  do  you 
belong  to?"'  "  I  do  not  belong  to  any  of  the  churches;  I  just 
belong  to  Christ."  After  a  pause,  in  which  the  little  one  was 
thinking  it  all  over,  she  turned  her  face  up  to  her  grandfather's, 
and  said,  "Well,  grandpapa,  if  I  were  you,  I  would  try  and  get  in 
somewhere. ' ' 


"It  Never  Took." 

718.  A  little  boy  was  asked,  during  a  small-pox  excitement, 
if  he  had  been  baptized.  He  answered,  "Yes,  I  have  been  bap- 
tized three  times,  but  it  never  took."  He  was  thinking  of  vacci- 
nation, but  sometimes  baptism  also  doesn't  seem  to  take. 


Baptism. 

719.    Among  the  negro  servants  of  Mr.  M.  was  one  who  had 

received  an  impression  from  some  traveling  preacher  that  immer- 
sion was  all  that  was  needful  to  salvation,  and  that  the  water 
which  cleansed  the  body  would,  if  consecrated  by  a  minister, 
purify  the  soul.  His  master  labored  hard  with  James  to  convince 
him  of  his  error,  but  to  no  purpose.  After  all  his  array  of  reasons 
and  proofs,  James'  face  was  stolid  and  severe.  The  heresy  still 
remained  untouched — '  *  immersion  was  regeneration. ' '  At  length 
the  master  changed  his  tacftics,  and  a  homely  illustration  did 
what  argument  could  not  effe(5l.  "James,"  said  he,  "  if  I  take  an 
ink-bottle  and  cork  it  tight,  and  put  a  string  round  the  neck,  and 
drag  it  through  the  river,  how  long  will  it  take  to  clean  out  the 


284 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


inside  ?  "  The  negro's  face  lighted  up  in  a  moment,  and  he  said, 
"  Massa,  3'ou'll  never  get  it  clean  that  way,  in  the  world." 

This  w^as  Mr.  M.'s  text,  w^th  which  he  was  enabled  to  make  a 
way  for  the  truth  to  his  servant's  mind  and  heart,  and  to  bring 
him  to  the  only  fountain  that  can  cleanse  the  soul. 


"Here's  a  Church!" 

720.  Not  long  ago,  says  the  New  York  Evangelist,  a  ship  was 
wrecked  upon  the  reefs  of  an  island  in  the  Pacific.  The  sailors, 
escaping  to  land,  feared  lest  they  might  fall  into  the  hands  of 
savages.  One  climbed  a  bluff  to  reconnoiter.  Turning  to  his 
companions,  he  shouted,  "Come  on !  here's  a  church  ! " 

Why  was  it  safer  for  shipwrecked  men  to  go  where  a  church 
upreared  its  cross,  than  where  there  was  none  ? 


Without  a  Church. 

721.  An  infidel  young  lawyer,  going  to  the  West  to  settle  for 
life,  made  it  his  boast  that  he  ' '  would  locate  in  some  place  where 
there  were  no  churches,  Sunday-schools,  or  Bibles."  He  found  a 
place  which  substantially  met  his  conditions.  But,  before  the 
year  was  out,  he  wrote  to  a  former  class-mate,  a  young  minister, 
begging  him  to  come  out  and  bring  plenty  of  Bibles,  and  begin 
preaching,  and  start  a  Sunday-school,  for  he  said  he  had  "be- 
come convinced  that  a  place  without  Christians,  and  Sabbaths, 
and  churches,  and  Bibles,  was  too  much  like  hell  for  any  living 
ma7t  to  stay  in.'" 


Hard  Pulling  for  the  Pastor. 

722.  ' '  Some  time  ago  I  dreamed  that  I  was  hitched  to  a  car- 
riage, attempting  to  draw  it  through  the  mud  which  covered  the 
street  in  front  of  my  house.  How  or  why  I  had  been  assigned 
that  position,  I  could  not  explain,  but  there  I  was  pulling,  with 
all  my  might,  as  if  I  were  the  best  carriage-horse  in  town. 

"  I  had  reached  a  point  not  far  from  the  church,  when  the  mud 
seemed  to  get  deeper  and  deeper,  and  the  carriage  to  draw  so 
heavily  that  I  gasped  for  breath,  and  almost  sank  exhausted. 
This  seemed  the  more  inexplicable,  when,  looking  back,  I  saw 
the  entire  congregation  behind  the  carriage,  apparently  pushing 


RKVIVAI.  ANECDOTES.  285 

it  along.  But  the  more  I  tried,  the  harder  it  became,  till  finally 
I  was  forced  to  stop  and  examine  the  difficulty. 

"I  went  to  the  rear,  where  I  supposed  was  the  congregation, 
but  nobody  could  be  found.  I  called,  but  no  answer.  I  repeated 
the  call  several  times,  but  still  no  reply.  By  and  by,  a  voice 
called  out,  '  Hello!'  and  looking  up,  whom  should  I  see  but  one 
of  the  deacons,  looking  complacently  out  of  the  window,  and 
upon  going  to  the  door  of  the  carriage,  what  was  my  astonish- 
ment to  behold  the  w^hole  congregation  quietly  sitting  inside ! ' ' 

No  one  but  the  Master  himself  is  competent  to  bear  such  a 
strain  as  that  upon  heart  and  strength.  He  often  does  bear  it — 
but  it  grieves  him  none  the  less. 


An  Error  Often  Committed  by  Christians. 

723.  In  a  sermon  which  the  Rev.  W.  Williams  once  delivered 
at  Rhos,  this  anecdote  occurred,  applying  to  his  favorite  topic  of 
Christian  union:  "I  recollecft,"  he  said,  "on  one  occasion  con- 
versing with  a  marine,  who  gave  me  a  good  deal  of  his  history. 
He  told  me  that  the  most  terrible  engagement  he  had  ever  been  in, 
was  one  between  the  ship  to  which  he  belonged  and  another  En- 
glish vessel,  when,  on  meeting  in  the  night,  they  mistook  each 
other  for  enemies.  Several  persons  were  wounded,  and  both  ves- 
sels were  much  damaged  by  the  firing.  When  the  day  broke, 
great  and  painful  was  the  surprise  to  find  the  English  flag  hoisted 
from  both  ships.  They  saluted  each  other,  and  wept  bitterly 
together  over  their  mistake.  Christians  sometimes  commit  the 
same  error.  One  denomination  mistakes  another  for  an  enemy ; 
it  is  night,  and  they  do  not  recognize  one  another.  What  will 
be  their  surprise  when  they  see  each  other  in  heaven's  light! 
How  will  they  salute  each  other  when  better  known  and  under- 
stood!" 


Narrow  Church  Spirit. 

724.  A  woman  in  Philadelphia  was  invited  to  attend  a  female 
prayer-meeting  at  a  certain  place.  She  inquired  what  they  met 
there  for,  and  for  what  they  were  going  to  pray  ?  She  was  told 
that  they  were  going  to  pray  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit 
upon  the  city. 

"Well,"  said  she,  "I  shan't  go.  If  they  were  going  to  pray 
for  our  congregation,  I  would  go ;  but  I'm  not  going  there  to  pray 
for  other  churches." 


286 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


"A  Mighty  Good  Baptist." 

725.  We  liave  read  somewhere  of  a  colored  brother  who  diag- 
nosed his  own  case  thus  candidly:  "  I's  a  mighty  po'  sort  of  a 
Christian,  but  I's  a  mighty  good  Baptist."  The  same  sort  of 
description  might  apply  elsewhere.  Persons  in  their  zeal  for  sedl, 
or  secftarian  peculiarities,  often  forget  to  be  real  good  Christians ; 
and  there  are  those  who  are  very  zealous  for  Sunday-school  work 
and  who  are  similarly  forgetful.  The  zealous  churchman  and 
Sundaj^-school  teacher  alike  should  be  zealous  Christians  first. 


"My  Brother!" 

726.  At  a  Sunday-school  convention  over  which  the  evangel- 
ist, Major  Whittle,  presided,  a  Presbyterian  minister  was  present, 
a  Mr.  Frame,  who  rather  prided  himself  on  being  able  to  tell,  after 
a  very  short  acquaintance,  to  what  denomination  a  speaker  be- 
longed. Major  Whittle  was  a  puzzler  to  him.  One  night,  after 
having  retired,  the  minister's  wife  asked,  "My  dear,  to  what  de- 
nomination does  Mr.  Whittle  belong?"  "Oh,  I'm  tired — let's 
go  to  sleep ! ' '  was  the  reply.  The  next  night  his  wife  repeated 
the  question,  and  the  good  man  confessed,  "I  don't  know — can't 
tell."  And  it  was  so  throughout  the  whole  convention;  not  a 
word  fell  from  any  one  that  indicated  what  his  particular  denomi- 
nation was.  On  the  closing  day  Mr.  Frame  was  asked  to  make 
some  remarks.  He  stated  the  fadls  as  above  related  and  said, 
' '  Now,  my  brother,  before  we  part,  I  want  to  know  to  what  de- 
nomination you  do  belong?  What  are  3^ou,  anyhow?"  Major 
Whittle  stepped  up  to  him,  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "My 
brother,  I  am  a  sinner  saved  and  kept  by  the  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ ! ' '  Mr.  Frame,  extending  both  his  hands,  took  the 
Major's  into  his  own,  and  with  tears  streaming  down  his  cheeks, 
said,  '■'■My  brother!"" 


"What  Hinders?" 

727.  Dr.  W.  P.  Mackay,  preaching  one  day  to  some  British 
soldiers,  put  the  question:  "If  Queen  Vi(5toria  were  to  issue  a 
proclamation,  and  placing  it  in  the  hands  of  her  army  and  navy 
should  say,  *  Go  into  all  the  world  and  proclaim  it  to  every  crea- 
ture,' how  long  do  you  think  it  would  take  to  do  it?"  One  of 
these  men,  accustomed  to  obeying  orders  without  questioning  or 
delay,  and  at  the  peril  of  their  lives,  replied  (he  was  a  grave  and 
intelligent  officer),  "I  think  we  could  manage  it  in  about  eighteen 
months." 

And  now  the  Church  may  well  ask,  "  What  hinders 


REVIVAIv  ANECDOTES. 


287 


An  OIvD  IvEGEnd. 

728.  There  was  a  city  built  higli  and  fair  upon  a  noble  hill. 
T'rom  the  center  of  that  hill  gushed  forth  a  spring  which  supplied 
all  the  inhabitants.  It  was  defended  by  great  walls  and  towers, 
and  a  garrison  w^ell  provisioned  and  brave,  very  brave.  It  had 
been  besieged  for  many  j^ears,  but  its  walls  were  high,  and  the 
battlements  had  on  them  cannon  that  swept  every  inch  of  ground 
around  that  city,  and  the  brave  defenders  laughed  the  besieging 
enemy  to  scorn.  But  one  day  the  general  says,  "We  will  make 
a  sortie  to-day,  and  raise  the  siege. ' '  The  army  is  mustered ;  men 
are  stationed  at  the  gates,  ready  to  slide  back  the  bars  at  the  sound 
of  the  bugle.  See  the  garrison  in  the  streets !  Down  one  street  the 
cavalry  mounted  on  their  horses,  the  plumes  waving,  and  the  pol- 
ished metal  glancing  in  the  sunlight;  down  this  street  the  artillery, 
€very  man  on  horse,  or  caisson,  or  cannon;  in  that  great  street  the 
infantry,  drawn  up  in  a  mighty  column.  All  was  readj'-,  when  lo! 
out  of  the  great  tent  in  the  center  of  all  the  opposing  forces  came 
a  gray-haired  magician,  and  he  began  to  w^ork  a  charm  of  woven 
paces  and  waving  hands,  tossed  it  through  the  air,  and  it  fell  on 
the  garrison !  Strange  and  weird,  it  turned  them  into  stone !  There 
were  the  serried  ranks  of  the  infantry;  there  the  strong  cavalry- 
man, stately,  sitting  on  his  horse,  vSolid  stone.  The  city  is  lost, 
if  now  the  enemy  comes ;  after  all  they  will  conquer  the  devoted 
city.  "Adjutant,  go  to  the  priest,  the  high  priest  of  the  city;  tell 
him  our  situation,  ask  him  to  come,  and  if  possible  break  the 
magician's  spell."  The  high  priest  comes;  he  lifts  up  his  hands 
to  heaven;  he  prays!  God  sent  a  mightier  charm  that  broke  the 
fatal  influence.  The  hearts  of  stone  began  to  beat,  and  the  pulses 
to  heave.  Once  more  life  returned.  Back  went  the  bars,  open 
flew  the  gates,  onward  went  the  host,  and  the  siege  was  raised. 
It  is  God's  Church,  built  high  and  fair  upon  the  Rock  of  Ages. 
She  has  stood  the  siege  of  eighteen  centuries,  scorned  the  attacks 
made  upon  her  by  the  hosts  of  the  Roman  Empire,  the  lion's 
mouth,  and  the  fiery  stake,  every  assault  of  heathen  philosophy, 
and  later  of  scientific  criticism  and  a  materialistic  philosophy. 
She  has  answered  them  over  and  over  again  a  thousand  times, 
* '  Will  these  gentlemen  please  to  give  us  something  new  ? ' '  But 
what  the  world  cannot  do  by  argument,  by  persecution,  by  criti- 
cism, by  sneers,  it  is  accomplishing  by  magic.  The  world  has 
come  and  wrought  its  charm  of  money,  position,  fame,  pleasure, 
amusement,  society,  and  has  cast  it  over  God's  fair  city;  and  when 
the  command  comes,  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  every  creature  " ;  "go  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges 
and  compel  them  to  come  in,"  they  are  as  still  as  a  stone !  What 
is  needed  ?  Our  great  High  Priest  to  pray  and  break  the  tempter's 
fatal  power,  turn  the  stony  heart  to  flesh,  and  begin  from  this 
good  hour  to  revive  his  work  afresh. 


288 


THEJ  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


A  Royal  Pageant. 

729.  Rev.  George  Gilfallaii,  of  Scotland,  discoursing  on  "The 
Gospel  of  the  Kingdom,"  saj-s:  — 

' '  We  are  told  in  ]Matthew,  that  '  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom 
shall  be  preached  in  all  the  world  for  a  witness  unto  all  nations; 
and  then  shall  the  end  come.'  I  never  read  the  words  without 
remembering  a  spectacle  I,  in  common  with  thousands,  saw,  and 
which  none  that  saw  it  can  ever  forget.  It  was  when  her  jMajest3^, 
the  Queen,  visited  Edinburgh,  in  1842.  Scarcely-  had  the  twilight 
darkened  into  night,  when,  from  ever^'  hill  surrounding  that  most 
magnificent  of  cities,  there  seemed  to  rise  simultaneously  a  crest 
of  fire.  Each  mountaineer  lifted  up  in  his  hand  a  torch;  and  from 
Berwick  to  Fife,  and  Fife  to  Sterling,  the  great  frith  was  at  once 
illuminated.  It  was  a  witness,  it  was  a  token  to  the  land  that  its 
sovereign  was  near.  It  was  a  token,  too,  to  the  approaching  ves- 
sel far  out  at  sea  that  all  was  read}'  for  her  reception — that  loyalty- 
had  gushed  out  into  those  flaming  signals." 

Thus,  when  the  gospel  beacons  from  California  to  Japan  are 
fulh'  lighted,  it  will  be  a  witness,  a  token  to  earth  that  the  end  is 
approaching,  and  a  signal  to  heaven  for  the  preparation  of  the 
chariot,  the  harnessing  of  the  steeds,  the  furnishing  of  the  thun- 
derbolts, the  gathering  together  of  all  the  elements,  the  witnesses 
and  the  victims  of  that  great  day  of  God  Almightj'.  Our  part, 
meanwhile,  is  surely  to  go  forward,  and  light  up  from  land  to 
land  the  signals  of  this  great  and  blessed  advent. 


The  GospeIv  Laxguage. 

730,  **I  have  heard  of  a  Hindoo  and  a  New  Zealander  who 
met  upon  the  deck  of  a  missionar}'  ship.  The}'  had  both  been 
converted  from  their  heathenism,  and  were  brothers  in  Christ, 
but  tlie\'  could  not  speak  to  each  other.  The}"  pointed  to  their 
Bibles,  shook  hands,  smiled  in  one  another's  faces,  but  that  was 
all.  At  last  a  happy  thought  occurred  to  the  Hindoo.  With 
sudden  joy  he  exclaimed,  'Hallelujah!'  The  New  Zealander,  in 
delight,  cried  out,  'Amen.'  Those  two  words,  not  found  in  their 
own  heathen  tongues,  but  given  them  by  the  gospel,  were  to 
them  the  beginning  again  of  '  one  language  and  one  speech.'  " 


PART  III, 

TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  OUTLINES, 

AND 

SCRIPTURE  READINGS. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  OUTLINES, 

AND 

SCRIPTURE  READINGS. 


I.  GOD. 


I.   GOD.  EXISTENCE  AND  ATTRIBUTES. 


731.  A  Fooiv's  Opinion — "The  fool  hath,  said  in  his  heart, 
There  is  no  God."    Ps.  14:  i. 


732,  God  not  Considered — "God  is  not  in  all  his 
thoughts."    Ps.  10:4. 


733.  Forgetting  God  — ' '  Who  art  thou,  that  thou  shouldest 
he  afraid  of  a  man  that  shall  die,  and  of  the  son  of  man  which 
shall  be  made  as  grass,  and  forgettest  the  Lord  thy  Maker?" 
Isa.  51: 12,  13. 


734.  The  Truth  oe  God — '  *  God  is  not  a  man,  that  he  should 
lie."    Num.  23:19. 


735,  GoD*s  Microscope  —  "Search  me,  O  God,  and  know 
my  heart:  try  me,  and  know  my  thoughts."    Ps.  139:23. 


736.  The  Memory  oe  God — * '  The  Lord  hath  sworn  by  the  ex- 
cellency of  Jacob,  Surely  I  will  never  forget  any  of  their  works." 
Amos  8:7. 

291 


292 


THE  GOSPE)!/  worker's  TREASURY. 


737,    God's  Tribunai^ — the  Lord  search  the  heart,  I  try 

the  reins,  even  to  give  every  man  according  to  his  ways,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  fruit  of  his  doings."    Jer.  17:  lo. 


738.  The  KxacT  Judge — "Judgment  also  will  I  lay  to  the 
line,  and  righteousness  to  the  plummet:  and  the  hail  shall  sweep 
away  the  refuge  of  lies,  and  the  waters  shall  overflow  the  hiding 
place."    Isa.  28:17. 

739.  When  the  King  Comes  In— "And  when  the  king 
came  in  to  see  the  guests,  he  saw  there  a  man  which  had  not  on 
a  wedding  garment. ' '    Matt.  22:11. 


740.  God's  Unseen  Books  — ' '  And  the  books  were  opened. ' " 
Rev.  20: 12. 


^741,  The  Morai.  Balance  Sheet — "And  the  Lord  God 
liaid  unto  the  woman,  What  is  this  that  thou  hast  done.?"  Gen_ 
3:13- 


742.  The  FiNAiy  Separation  — '  *  And  he  shall  separate  them 
one  from  another,  as  a  shepherd  divideth  his  sheep  from  the- 
goats."    Matt.  25:32. 


743.  An  Important  Duty — Prepare  to  meet  thy  God." 
Amos  4: 12. 


744,  The  Coming  Judge  —  "Behold,  the  judge  standeth  be- 
fore the  door."    Jas.  5:9. 


745.  The  Unerring  Balances —  "For  the  I^ord  is  a  God  of 
knowledge,  and  by  him  acftions  are  weighed."    I.  Sam.  2:3. 


746.  Cloaks  for  Sin — ' '  But  now  they  have  no  cloak  [mar- 
gin, excuse]  for  their  sin."    John  15:22. 


747,  Hiding  erom  God  —  "And  Adam  and  his  wife  hid 
themselves  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  God  amongst  the  trees 
of  the  garden."    Gen.  3:8. 

I.    Sin  leads  men  to  hide  from  God,  i.  In  forgetfulness  of  him.  2. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


293 


thinking-  him  afar  oflf.  3.  In  denial  of  his  retributiveness.  4.  In  denial 
of  his  being. 

II,  Hiding  is  vain.  Ps.  139:1-12.  God  finds  men  through,  i.  Their 
consciences.  2.  The  operation  of  the  laws  of  nature.  3.  The  Church. 
4.  The  Holy  Spirit.    5.  The  final  judgment. 

Remarks  —  i.  Men  hide  from  the  mercy,  not  the  wrath  of  God.  2.  Hid- 
ing is  a  vain  experiment.  Millions  have  failed  disastrously.  3.  If  you 
must  hide,  hide  in  the  Rock  of  Ages. 


.  748.  A  TerribIvE  Fate  —  *'  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into 
Re  hands  of  the  living  God."    Heb.  10: 31. 


749,  Forgetting  God's  Wrath  —  "They  consider  not  in 
their  hearts  that  I  remember  all  their  wickedness."    Hos.  7:2. 


750.  The  Terror  of  the  Lord  — ' '  Knowing  therefore  the 
terror  of  the  Lord,  we  persuade  men."    II.  Cor.  5:11. 


7^1,  Judgment  Tempered  with  Mercy — "And  there  was 
a  rainbow  round  about  the  throne."    Rev.  4:3. 


752.  Two  Phases  of  God's  Character — "For  our  God  is 
a  consuming  fire. ' '   Heb.  12 : 29.   "  For  God  is  love. ' '   I.  John  4:8. 


753*  God's  Silence  Misinterpreted:  God  not  like  Man. 
— ' '  These  things  hast  thou  done,  and  I  kept  silence ;  thou 
thoughtest  that  I  was  altogether  such  a  one  as  thyself."  Ps. 
50:21. 


754.  The  Lord's  Mercies — "It  is  of  the  Lord's  mercies 
that  we  are  not  consumed,  because  his  compassions  fail  not." 
Lam.  3:  22. 


755,  God's  Tenderness  —  "When  the  poor  and  needy  seek 
w^ater,  and  there  is  none,  and  their  tongue  faileth  for  thirst,  I  the 
Lord  will  hear  them,  I  the  God  of  Israel  will  not  forsake  them." 
Isa.  41:17. 


756.  A  Strange  Love —  "For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that 
lie  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him 
;should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life."    John  3: 16. 


294 


THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


757.  A  WoNDERFui.  IvOVE  — ' '  Behold,  what  manner  of  love 
the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we  should  be  called  the 
sons  of  God."    I.  John  3:  i 


758.  God's  Anxiety  to  Save  Sinners — "I  have  no  pleasure 
in  the  death  of  him  that  dieth,  saith  the  lyord  God:  wherefore 
turn  yourselves,  and  live  ye."    Kzek.  18:32. 


^  759*  God's  Passionate  Cry  over  the  Sinner — *'How 
shall  I  give  thee  up,  Ephraim  ?"    Hos.  11:8. 


760.  God  Not  Far  Away — "That  they  should  seek  the 
Lord,  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  him,  and  find  him,  though  he 
be  not  far  from  every  one  of  us."    A(5ls  17: 27. 


^  761.  Enmity  on  the  Sinner's,  not  on  God's  Part — "And 
3'ou,  that  were  sometime  alienated  and  enemies  in  your  mind  by 
wicked  works,  yet  now  hath  he  reconciled  in  the  body  of  his  flesh 
through  death."    Col.  1:21,  22. 


^  762,  God  Not  Responsible  for  the  Loss  OE  Souls —  "  As- 
I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the- 
wicked;  but  that  the  wicked  turn  from  his  way  and  live."  Ezek.. 
33:11. 


763.  The  Character  oe  Jesus — "Consider  the  Apostle 
and  High  Priest  of  our  profession,  Christ  Jesus."    Heb.  3:1. 


764.  jESUS  CarETh  for  Us — "And  they  awake  him,  and 
say  unto  him,  Master,  carest  thou  not  that  we  perish  ? ' '  Mark 


2.  CHRIST. 


4:38. 


765.  The  Great  Physician — "I  am  the  Lord  that  healeth 
thee."    Ex.  15:26. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INKS.  295 

766*  A  Living  Christ — "Seeing lie  ever  liveth."  Heb.  7:25. 


767.  An  Interceding  Christ — "Seeing  he  ever  liveth.  to 
make  intercession  for  them."    Heb.  7:  25. 


768,  An  Hour  of  Consummation — "Father,  the  hour  is 
come."    John  17:  i. 

769.  A  Weeping  Savior  — ' '  And  when  he  was  come  near, 
he  beheld  the  city,  and  wept  over  it."    lyiike  19:41. 

Introduction  —  The  inner  happiness  of  Jesus  as  Divine.    Yet  he  was 
sad  over  the  sin  of  the  world ;  never  smiled,  but  wept. 
Jesus  wept — 

I.  Over  the  sin  of  Jerusalem. 

II.  Over  its  consequent  degradation. 

III.  Over  its  temporal  punishment. 

IV.  Over  its  eternal  punishment. 

Y.     Over  its  unwillingness  to  be  saved. 
Closing  Thoughts — i.  Jesus  could  not  avert  the  coming  calamities 
without  becoming  a  participator  in  its  sin.    2.  He  loved  the  city  even  after 
it  hadreje(5led  him.    3.  His  tears  reveal  the  Divine  estimate  of  sin. 


770.  Christ's  Pity  for  the  Sinner  —  "O  Jerusalem,  Je- 
rusalem, .  .  .  how  often  would  I  have  gathered  thy  children 
together,  .  .  .  and  ye  would  not."    Matt.  23:37. 


77r.  Christ  our  Passover — "For  even  Christ  our  passover 
is  sacrificed  for  us."    I.  Cor.  5:7. 


772.  Ransom  for  Ai^l, —  "Who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for 
all."    I.  Tim.  2:6. 


773.  God  s  Unspeakable  Gift — "Thanks  be  unto  God  for 
his  unspeakable  gift."    II.  Cor.  9: 15. 


774.  A  Divine  Errand  — ' '  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners."    I.  Tim.  i:  15 


775.  A  Great  Price  —  "To  feed  the  church  of  God,  which 
he  hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood."    A(5ts  20: 28. 


296 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


776.  Christ's  Unai^terable  Purpose — "And  it  came  to 
pass,  when  the  time  was  come  that  he  should  be  received  up,  he 
steadfastl}^  set  his  face  to  go  to  Jerusalem."    Luke  9:51. 


777.  The  Mar^-elous  Magxet — "And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up 
from  the  earth,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me."    John  12:  32. 


778.  A  Stroxg  Redeemer  —  "Their  Redeemer  is  strong; 
the  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name."    Jer.  50:34. 


779*  ^Iighty  to  Save  —  "I  that  speak  in  righteousness, 
might}'  to  save. ' '    Isa.  63 :  i . 


780.  Jesus  the  Savior — "Thou  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus: 
for  he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins."    Matt.  1:21. 


781.  The  Only  Foundation — "For  other  foundation  can 
no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ."  I.  Cor. 
3:11. 


782,  The  Three  Crosses — "And  when  they  were  come  to 
the  place  which  is  called  Calvar\-,  there  the}'  crucified  him,  and 
the  malefaclors,  one  on  the  right  hand,  and  the  other  on  the  left." 
Luke  23:33. 


783.  Glorying  in  the  Cross — "But  God  forbid  that  I 
should  glory,  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. ' '  Gal. 
6:14. 


784.  Crucifying  the  Lord  Jesus  —  "God  hath  made  that 
same  Jesus,  whom  ye  have  crucified,  both  Lord  and  Christ." 
Acis  2:36. 


785.  The  World's  Recognition  of  the  Value  of  Christ 
— ' '  For  their  rock  is  not  as  our  Rock,  even  our  enemies  them- 
selves being  judges."    Deut.  32:31. 


786,  The  Law  of  Retribution  —  "Then  was  the  king's 
wrath  pacified."    Esther  7: 10. 


O^KXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OU'ri,INE:S. 


297 


787.  The;  Sinner's  Need  and  Savior — All  we  like  sheep 
liave  gone  astray;  we  have  turned  every  one  to  his  own  way;  and 
the  Lord  hath  laid  on  him  the  iniquity  of  us  all."    Isa.  53:6. 


788.  The  Benevolence  op  Christ — "For  ye  know  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that,  though  he  was  rich,  yet  for 
your  sakes  he  became  poor,  that  ye  through  his  poverty  might 
be  rich."    II.  Cor.  8:9. 


789.  A  Shepherd  Faithpui.  Unto  Death — "I  am  the 
good  shepherd:  the  good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the  sheep." 
John  10:11 


790.  SA1.VAT10N  BY  THE  Blood — "As  for  thee  also,  by  the 
blood  of  thy  covenant  I  have  sent  forth  thy  prisoners  out  of  the 
pit  wherein  is  no  water."    Zech.  9:11.    See  preceding  verses. 


791.^  The  Power  op  Christ  to  Save  —  "He  cried  with  a 
loud  voice,  Lazarus,  come  forth."    John  11:43. 


792.  Christ  Only  can  Save — "And  was  nothing  bettered, 
but  rather  grew  worse. ' '    JMark  5 : 26. 


793.  Salvation  to  the  Uttermost  —  "Wherefore  he  is 
able  also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by 
him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them."  Heb. 
7:25. 


794.  Our  Only  Glory — ' '  But  of  him  are  ye  in  Christ  Jesus, 
who  of  God  is  made  unto  us  wisdom,  and  righteousness,  and 
sandlification,  and  redemption."    I.  Cor.  1:30. 


3.  HOLY  SPIRIT. 


795.  Baptism  op  the  Holy  Ghost— "For  the  promise  is 
unto  you,  and  to  your  children,  and  to  all  that  are  afar  off,  even 
as  many  as  the  Lord  our  God  shall  call."    Adls  2:39. 


298 


The;  gospel  worker's  treasury. 


796.  Spiritual  Earthquakes  Wanted  —  "And  suddenly 
there  was  a  great  earthquake,  so  that  the  foundations  of  the 
prison  were  shaken."    Acts  16:26. 


797,  The  Gift  oe  the  Spirit  —  "How  much  more  shall 
your  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit  to  them  that  ask 
him?"    Luke  11:13. 


798,  The  Working  Power — "But  ye  shall  receive  power, 
after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  "come  upon  you."    A(fts  1:8. 


799,  The  Leading  oe  the  Holy  Spirit — "  But  the  Spirit 
suffered  them  not."    Acfts  16:  7. 


800.  Convicting  Power  oe  the  Holy  Ghost — ' '  And  when 
he  is  come,  he  will  reprove  the  world  of  sin,  and  of  righteous- 
ness, and  of  judgment."    John  16:8. 


8oi.  Grieving  the  Spirit  —  "And  grieve  not  the'^Holy 
Spirit  of  God,  whereby  ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemp-^ 
tion."    Eph.  4:30. 


8o2.  Quenching  the  Spirit  —  "Quench  not  the  Spirit." 
I.  Thess.  5: 19. 


803.  Fruit  oe  the  Spirit — "But  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is 
love,  joy,  peace,  longsuffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith,  meek- 
ness, temperance:  against  such  there  is  no  law."    Gal.  5:22,  23. 


804.  Marks  oe  Having  Received  the  Holy  Ghost — 
"Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  since  ye  believed.'*"  Acfts 
19:2. 


4.  THE  WORD  OF  GOD. 


805.  The  Bible's  Estimate  oe  Itsele — ' '  For  the  prophecy 
came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man:  but  holy  men  of  God 
spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost."    II.  Peter  1:21. 


TKXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


299 


8o6.  Power  oe  the  Bible — "  For  the  word  of  God  is  quick, 
and  powerful,  and  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing- 
even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints 
and  marrow,  and  is  a  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of 
the  heart."    Heb.  4:12. 


807.  The  Only  Gospel — "But  though  we,  or  an  angel 
from  heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel  unto  you  than  that  which 
we  have  preached  unto  you,  let  him  be  accursed."    Gal.  1:8. 


8o8.  The  Gospel  Sueeicient — ''And  he  said  unto  him. 
If  they  hear  not  Moses  and  the  prophets,  neither  will  they  be 
persuaded,  though  one  rose  from  the  dead."    lyuke  16:31. 


809.  Christianity  the  Saving  Power  —  "Receive  with 
meekness  the  engrafted  word,  which  is  able  to  save  your  souls." 
Jas.  1:21. 


8io.  A  Burning  Question — "Wherewithal  shall  a  young 
man  cleanse  his  way  ?  by  taking  heed  thereto  according  to  thy 
word."    Ps.  119:9. 


811.  The  Work  oe  the  Bible  in  Conversion — "The  law 
of  the  Lord  is  perfedl,  converting  the  soul."    Ps.  19:7. 


812.  How  TO  Study  the  Bible  —  "Moreover  he  said  unto 
me.  Son  of  man,  all  my  words  that  I  shall  speak  unto  thee  re- 
ceive in  thine  heart,  and  hear  with  thine  ears."    Ezek.  3: 10. 


813.  The  Noble  Conduct  oe  the  BerEans  —  "These  were 
more  noble  than  those  in  Thessalonica,  in  that  they  received  the 
word  with  all  readiness  of  mind,  and  searched  the  Scriptures 
daily,  whether  those  things  were  so."    A6ts  17: 11. 

I.    Chara(5ler  and  conduA  of  the  Bereans. 

1.  The  gospel  was  preached  to  ihem  by  Paul  and  Silas. 

2.  The  courteous  deportment  of  the  Bereans  was  favorable  to  the  influ- 
ence of  the  gospel  preached. 

(1.)  They  heard  the  gospel  attentively,  (2.)  They  manifested  a  laudable 
spirit  of  inquiry.  (3. )  They  received  the  word  with  all  readiness  of  mind. 
(4.)  Their  acknowledgment  of  the  truth  was  the  result  of  diligent  investi- 
gation.   (5.)  They  believed. 

II.  Their  conduct  is  worthy  of  imitation. 

III.  The  advantages  of  imitating  the  Bereans. 


300 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


814.  Paying  Attention  to  God's  Word  —  "Come  hither, 
and  hear  the  words  of  the  Lord  your  God."    Toshua  3:9. 


8x5.  The  Scriptures  Bring  Fuli^ness  of  Joy — "These 
things  write  we  unto  3'ou,  that  yoiir  joy  may  be  full."  I.  John 
1:4. 


8i6.  A  Good  Hiding  Place  for  God's  Word — "Thy 
word  have  I  hid  in  mine  heart,  that  I  might  not  sin  against 
thee."    Ps.  119:11.    See  Ps.  37:31. 


817.  The  Bible  a  Divine  Book —  "  Not  as  the  word  of  men, 
but,  as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word  of  God."    I.  Thess.  2: 13. 


818.  Cleansing  Power  of  God's  Word — "Ye  are  clean 
through  the  word  which  I  have  spoken  unto  you."    John  15:3. 


819.  God's  Word  a  Preservative  from  Sin  —  "Thy  word 
have  I  hid  in  my  heart,  that  I  might  not  sin  against  thee."  Ps. 
119:  II. 

I»    The  great  objecSl  which  David  wished  to  secure. 

1.  It  is  natural  to  man  to  sin. 

2.  Christians  are  surrounded  by  man}^  temptations  to  sin. 

3.  Two  special  reasons  why  the  Christian  is  anxious  to  avoid  sin. 
(i.)  Its  evil  nature.    (2.)  Its  awful  effects. 

II.  The  important  expedient  adopted  by  the  Psalmist  to  preserve  him 
from  sin. 


11.  MAN. 


I.  MAN'S  SIN. 


(l.)   NATURE   OF  SIN. 


820.  The  WorIvD's  Bi.ood-Poison — **For  the  mystery  of 
iniquity  doth  already  work."    II.  Thess.  2:7. 

I.  The  a(5lual  nature  of  sin_ — iniquity. 

II.  The  inexplicable  peculiarities  of  sin  —  mystery  of  iniquity,  i.  Ori- 
gin.   2.  Power.    3,  Omnipresence.    4.  Gloom. 

III.  The  tremendous  adlivity  of  sin  —  doth  work.  i.  Perpetuating  it- 
self   2.  Propagating  itself.    3.  Intensifying  itself. 

Consider  in  the  light  of  this  text  the  following  passages:  Jer.  44:4; 
Prov.  21:4;  Prov.  14:12;  II.  Peter  2:20;  Jer.  2:25;  II.  Thess.  2:3,  8;  Rev. 
22:20.— Rev.  C.  S.  Robinson,  D.  D. 


821.   IvESSONS  FROM  the:  Fai.Iv  of  Man — Gen.  3:1-7. 


822.  FuLiy  Consecration  to  Kvir, —  "Behold,  thou  hast 
spoken  and  done  evil  things  as  thou  couldest."    Jer.  3:5. 


i  823.  The  Root  of  Sin  — ' '  Take  heed,  brethren,  lest  there  be 
In  any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief,  in  departing  from  the  liv- 
ing God."    Heb.  3:12. 


824.  The  Uncle anness  of  Sinners  —  "And  that  which 
they  offer  there  is  unclean."  Haggai  2:14.  See  also  preceding 
verse. 


825.  Sin  as  a  Debt  —  "And  forgive  us  our  debts,  as  we  for- 
give our  debtors . "    Matt .  6 : 1 2 . 

301 


J 

302     1^*^        THE  GOSPEiv  worker's  treasury. 

\ 826.    The  Captivity  oe  Sin — "  And  that  they  may  recover 
hemselves  out  of  the  snare  of  the  Devil,  who  are  taken  captive 
by  him  at  his  will."    II.  Tim.  2:26.    See  Isa.  61:  i. 

\   

^  827.   The  Insanity  oe  Sin  — ' '  The  whole  head  is  sick. ' '  Isa. 
1:5.    See  Isa.  42:7;  Eccles.  9:3. 


828.  Sin  as  a  Death — ' '  For  to  be  carnally  minded  is  death, ' ' 
Rom.  8:6.    Seel.  Cor.  15:22. 


829.  A  Fainting  Soul — "Hungrj^  and  thirsty,  their  soul 
fainted  in  them. "    Ps.  107:5.    See  Isa.  55:  i,  2. 

\   

830.  The  Popular  Estimate  oe  Sin — "Oh,  do  not  this 
abominable  thing  that  I  hate."    Jer.  44:4. 

A  popular  novelist  declared  a  sermon  on  sin  and  its  evil  consequences 
in  "bad  taste,"  in  view  of  the  many  pleasant  and  comforting  themes 
■which  might  have  been  chosen.  He  was  a  representative  of  a  large  class 
who  seek  to  shut  their  eyes  to  one  of  the  most  terrible  fadls  in  the  universe. 

I.  What  is  sin?  1.  What  do  you  mean  by  the  new  life?  3.  What  dis- 
closure does  Scripture  make  ?  4.  What  about  the  remedy  for  sin  ? — Rev. 
C.  S.  Robinson,  D.  D. 


831.  F11.THINESS  OE  Sin  —  "They  are  all  gone  aside,  they  are 
all  together  become  filthy. "    Ps.  14:3.    See  Zech.  13:  i. 


832.  Raggedness  oe  Sin — "But  we  are  all  as  an  unclean 
thing,  and  all  our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy  rags."  Isa.  64:6. 
See  Isa.  61 : 10. 


833.  The  Wounds  oe  Sin — "From  the  sole  of  the  foot 
even  unto  the  head  there  is  no  soundness  in  it;  but  wounds,  and 
bruises,  and  putrefying  sores."    Isa.  1:6.    See  Ps.  103:3;  147:3. 


834.^  The  Blindness  oe  Sin  —  "But  he  that  lacketh  these 
things  is  blind,  and  cannot  see  afar  off."  II.  Peter  1:9.  See  Isa. 
42:7. 


835.  Leprosy  oe  Sin — "And  immediatel3' his  leprosy  was 
cleansed."    Matt.  8:3. 


\        Ol)"^  TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES.  303 

836.  Ingratitude  of  Sin  —  '^Wliat  fruit  had  ye  then  in 
those  things  whereof  ye  are  now  ashamed  ?  for  the  end  of  those 
things  is  death."    Rom.  6:21. 


837.  Mercilessness  oe  Sin  —  "  And  he  would  not:  but  went 
and  cast  him  into  prison,  till  he  should  pay  the  debt."  Matt. 
18:30. 


838.  God's  IrreconciIvAble  Enemy — "Because  the  carnal 
mind  is  enmity  against  God."    Rom.  8:7. 


839.  Hatred  is  Murder  in  Embryo  —  "Whosoever  hateth 
his  brother  is  a  murderer."    I.  John  3: 15. 


840.  A  Pestilential  Place — "Arise  ye,  and  depart;  for 
this  is  not  your  rest:  because  it  is  polluted,  it  shall  destroy  you, 
even  with  a  sore  destrudlion."    Micah  2: 10. 


841.  Sin's  Enormity — "Is  not  thy  wickedness  great .f*  and 
thine  iniquities  infinite  ?  ' '    Job  22:5. 


*  842.  Sins  Estimated  in  the  Light  oe  Heaven — "Thou 
hast  set  our  iniquities  before  thee,  our  secret  sins  in  the  light  of 
thy  countenance."    Ps.  90:8. 

Introduction  —  If  we  would  know  what  our  sins  really  are,  we  must 
regard  them  in  the  same  light  that  God  does. 

I.  Bring  forward  our  iniquities,  or  our  more  open  and  gross  sins,  and  see 
how  they  will  appear  in  the  light  of  God's  countenance.  2.  Bring  our 
secret  sins,  the  sins  of  the  heart,  into  heaven,  and  see  how  they  will  ap- 
pear in  that  world  of  unclouded  light.  3.  I^et  us  take  a  similar  view  of 
our  sins  of  omission. 

Conclusion  —  You  perceive  the  reason  why  your  sins  appear  more 
numerous  and  more  criminal  in  the  sight  of  God  than  they  do  in  your 
own.— Payson. 


843.  Confession  of  Depravity — "Fori  know  that  in  me 
(that  is,  in  my  flesh,)  dwelleth  no  good  thing."    Rom.  7: 18. 


844.  Secret  Sins — ' '  Who  can  understand  his  errors  ?  cleanse 
thou  me  from  secret  faults."    Ps.  19: 12. 


304 


THE  GOSPEIy  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


845.  The  Guilt  of  Indifference  to  Divine  Threaten- 
INGS — "Yet  tliey  were  not  afraid,  nor  rent  their  garments,  neither 
the  king,  nor  any  of  his  servants  that  heard  all  these  words." 
Jer.  36:24. 


846.  The  Sinner  Thwarting  God's  Plans — I  have  over- 
thrown some  of  you  .  .  .  :  yet  have  ye  not  returned  unto  me, 
saith  the  Lord."    Amos  4: 11.    See  preceding  verses. 


847.  Morality  Insufficient  for  Salvation — "By  the 
deeds  of  the  law  there  shall  no  flesh  be  justified  in  his  sight." 
Rom.  3:20. 


848.  Not  Far  from  the  Kingdom — "  And  when  Jesus  saw 
that  he  answered  discreetly,  he  said  unto  him,  Thou  art  not  far 
from  the  kingdom  of  God."    Mark  12:34. 

I.  This  scribe  pleases  Jesus.  2.  Yet  he  is  outside  of  the  kingdom  of 
God.    3.  How  shall  he  step  into  the  kingdom? 


(2.)    ATTITUDE  OF  THE  SINNER. 


849.  Where  art  Thou? — "And  the  Lord  God  called  unto 
Adam,  and  said  unto  him.  Where  art  thou  ?  "    Gen.  3:9. 


850.  Whose  Sons  are  We? — "Jesus  said  unto  them,  If 
God  were  your  Father,  ye  would  love  me."    John  8:42. 


851.  Neutrality  Impossible — "He  that  is  not  with  me  is 
against  me. ' '    Luke  1 1 : 23. 


852.    "Who  is  on  the  Lord's  Side?"    Exodus  32:26. 


853.  An  Unfinished  Education — "And  he  did  evil,  be- 
cause he  prepared  not  his  heart  to  seek  the  Lord."  II.  Chron. 
12: 14. 


854.  Religious  Indifference — ' '  And  Gallio  cared  for  none 
of  those  things."    Adls  18: 17. 


TKXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES. 


305 


855.  Sinners  Cannot  Serve  God — '  *  And  Joshua  said  unto 
the  people,  Ye  cannot  serve  the  Lord."    Josh.  24: 19. 


856^  Prayers  oe  the  Wicked — "He  that  turneth  away 
his  ear  from  hearing  the  law,  even  his  prayer  shall  be  abomina- 
tion."   Prov.  28:9.    See  Prov.  15:8. 


857.  A  Terrible  Mistake — ''Because  thou  sayest,  I  am 
rich,  and  increased  with  goods,  and  have  need  of  nothing;  and 
knowest  not  that  thou  art  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and 
blind,  and  naked."    Rev.  3:17. 


858.  The  Fatae  Deeect — "  One  thing  thou  lackest:  go  thy 
way,  sell  whatsoever  thou  hast,  and  give  to  the  poor,  and  thou 
shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven:  and  come,  take  up  the  cross,  and 
follow  me. ' '    Mark  10:21. 


859.  Sin  oe  Omission  Ruinous —  "How  shall  we  escape,  if 
we  neglec5t  so  great  salvation  ?"    Heb.  2:3. 


86o.  Sins  oe  Omission — "Therefore  to  him  that  knoweth 
to  do  good,  and  doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin."    Jas.  4: 17. 


86l.  Sins  oe  Omission  —  "She  obeyed  not  the  voice;  she  re- 
ceived not  corredtion;  she  trusted  not  in  the  Lord;  she  drew  not 
near  to  her  God. ' '    Zeph.  3:2. 


862.  The  Moralist's  Defect  —  *  *  Thou  gavest  me  no  kiss. '  * 
Luke  7:45. 


863.  The  Seeeishness  oe  Mere  Morality — "Did  ye  at 
all  fast  unto  me,  even  to  me  ?  "    Zech.  7:5.    See  context. 

Men  are  moral :  i.  For  health's  sake.  2.  For  financial  reasons.  3.  To 
retain  the  respe(Sl  of  their  fellows.  4.  To  retain  their  self-re spedt.  5.  To 
avoid  an  accusing  conscience. 


864.   A  Fruitful  Source  oe  Bvil — "For  thy  heart  is  not 
right  m  the  sight  of  God."    A(5ts  8:21. 
20 


306 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


865.  The  SeIvF- Assertion  of  Worldi^iness — "Great  is 
Diana  of  the  Epliesians."    Adls  19:34. 


866.    "Is  Thine  Heart  Right?"   II.  Kings  10:15. 

1.  Right  in  its  love  ?  2.  Right  in  its  motive  power  ?  3.  Right  in  its  dis- 
positions, its  feelings,  its  spirit?   4.  Right  in  its  anticipations? 


867.    Robbing  God  — ' '  Will  a  man  rob  God  ? ' '    Mai.  3 : 8. 

I.  Robbing  God  is  robbing:  i,  A  father;  2,  A  benefactor;  3,  A  sympa- 
thizing friend;  4,  A  Savior. 

II.  We  rob  God:  i.  By  ignoring  him;  2,  By  rebelling  against  him. 

III.  We  rob  God  of :  i,  His  glory;  2,  Ourpraise;  3,  Our  prayers;  4,  Our 
love;  5,  Our  labors;  6,  Our  means. 

IV.  Consequences  of  robbing  God:  i,  Shrinking  souls;  2,  Unrest; 
3,  Curse  of  God. 


868.  Destructiveness  of  Disbelief — "By  faith  Abel  of- 
fered unto  God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice  than  Cain."  Heb.  11:4. 
**And  without  shedding  of  blood  is  no  remission."    Heb.  9:22. 


869.  Christ's  Suffering,  the  Measure  of  Our  Sin — 
But  he  was  wounded  for  our  transgressions,  he  was  bruised  for 

our  iniquities:  the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him;  and 

with  his  stripes  we  are  healed. ' '    Isa.  53 : 5. 


870.  Self-Deception — *'The  pride  of  thine  heart  hath  de- 
ceived thee. ' '    Obadiah  1:3. 


(3.)    JUDGMENT  FOR  SIN. 


871.  Unfailing  Justice  of  God  —  "Thus  he  shewed  me: 
and,  behold,  the  Lord  stood  upon  a  wall  made  by  a  plumb-line, 
with  a  plumb-line  in  his  hand."    Amos  7:7. 


872.  Tekel — "Thou  art  weighed  in  the  balances,  and  art 
found  wanting. ' '    Dan.  5 : 27. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


3U7 


-^873.  Guilty  Before  God — "That  every  moutli  may  be 
stopped,  and  all  the  world  may  become  guilty  before  God." 
Hom.  3 : 19. 


874,  Individual  Judgment  —  *'So  then  every  one  of  ns 
^hall  give  account  of  himself  to  God."    Rom.  14: 12. 


875.  Pondering  Hearts — ' '  The  lyord  pondereth  the  hearts. ' ' 
Prov.  21:2. 


876.  Facing  the  Records— "And  I  saw  the  dead,  small 
and  great,  stand  before  God;  and  the  books  were  opened."  Rev. 
20: 12. 


877.   On  the  Last  Judgment — Rev.  20: 11. 

I.  The  throne,    i.  It  is  great.  2.  It  is  white  (pure,  righteous). 

II.  The  Judge. 

III.  The  manner  of  the  judgment. 

IV.  The  execution  of  the  judgment. — Rev.  John  Welch. 


'**«78.  Silenced  and  Guilty — "That  every  mouth  may  be 
stopped,  and  all  the  world  may  become  guilty  before  God." 
Rom.  3: 19. 


879.  The  Partial  and  the  Just  Judge — "All  the  ways 
of  a  man  are  clean  in  his  own  eyes;  but  the  Lord  weigheth  the 
spirits."    Prov.  16:2. 


88o.  Earthly  Standards  Not  Accepted  at  the  Judg- 
ment— Isa.  55:8,  9. 


88x.  Enlightenment  Deepens  Guilt — "  Therefore  to  him 
that  knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doeth  it  not,  to  him  it  is  sin."  Jas. 


882.  Privilege  Increases  Responsibility — '  *  Therefore  we 
ought  to  give  the  more  earnest  heed  to  the  things  which  we  have 
heard,  lest  at  any  time  we  should  let  them  slip."  Heb.  2:1.  See 
context. 


4:17. 


308 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


883.  Superior  Privileges  Increase  Condemnation — 
"The  men  of  Nineveh  shall  rise  in  judgment  with  this  genera- 
tion, and  shall  condemn  it."    Matt.  12:41. 


884,  Obduracy  oe  Sin —  "For  all  this  they  sinned  still,  and 
believed  not  for  his  wondrous  works."    Ps.  78:32. 


885.  Hiding  from  God  —  "And  Adam  and  his  wife  hid 
themselves  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord  God  amongst  the  trees, 
of  the  garden."    Gen.  3:8. 


886.  No  Room  for  Jesus — "There  was  no  room  for  them, 
in  the  inn. ' '    Luke  2 : 7. 


887.  Human  Frivolousness —  "But  they  made  light  of  it."^ 
Matt.  22:5.    See  Prov.  1:26;  Ps.  2:4. 


888.  A  Low  Appraisement — "So  they  weighed  for  my 
price  thirty  pieces  of  silver."  Zech.  11:12.  Comp.  Matt.  27:3-10;. 
A(5ts  1:16-19. 


889.  Rejecting  Christ — ' '  Away  with  this  man,  and  release 
unto  us  Barabbas. ' '    Luke  23 : 18. 


890.  The  Warning  of  the  Trumpet  Unheeded — "He 
heard  the  sound  of  the  trumpet,  and  took  not  warning;  his  blood 
shall  be  upon  him.  But  he  that  taketh  warning  shall  deliver  his 
soul."    Ezek.  33:5. 

I.  A  time  of  peril.  2.  A  warning  trumpet.  3.  The  alarm  despised. 
4.  A  doom  pronounced. 


891.  The  Danger  of  Delay — "Give  glor}^  to  the  Lord 
3'our  God,  before  he  cause  darkness,  and  before  your  feet  stum- 
ble upon  the  dark  mountains."    Jer.  13: 16. 


(4.)    REJECTING  CHRIST. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES.  309 

892.  Unappreciated  Privii^EGES — "  Receive  not  the  grace 
of  God  in  vain."    II.  Cor.  6:1. 


893.  At  the  Parting  op  the  Ways — "He  that  believeth 
and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
damned."    Mark  16:16. 


894.  The  Sinner's  Choice — ''Then  cried  they  all  again, 
saying,  Not  this  man,  but  Barabbas."    John  18:40. 


895.  Willful  Unbelief — "If  I  say  the  truth,  why  do  ye 
not  believe  me  ? ' '    John  8 : 46. 


896.  Worldly  Business  no  Plea  for  Neglecting  Re- 
ligion —  * '  Let  the  dead  bury  their  dead. '  *    Matt.  8:22. 


897.  Vain  Excuses — "Bring  forth  your  strong  reasons, 
saith  the  King  of  Jacob."    Isa.  41:21. 


898.  Ashamed  of  Christ — ' '  For  whosoever  shall  be  ashamed 
of  me  and  of  my  words,  of  him  shall  the  Son  of  man  be  ashamed, 
v^hen  he  shall  come  in  his  own  glory,  and  in  his  Father's,  and  of 
the  holy  angels. ' '    Luke  9 : 26. 


899.  Refusing  the  Last  Chance — "I  gave  her  space  to 
repent  .  .  .  ;  and  she  repented  not."    Rev.  2:21. 


900.  Lot's  Choice — "Then  Lot  chose  him  all  the  plain  of 
Jordan."    Gen.  13:11. 

I.  His  choice  (historical). 

II.  His  motive,  i.  Not  religious  advantages,  2.  Not  the  hope  of  bene- 
fiting others,    3.  But  worldly  advantage. 

III.  What  he  gained —  a  home  in  Sodom. 

IV.  What  he  lost  —  i.  Christian  fellowship.  2.  Moral  tone.  3.  Hap- 
piness.   4.  Property.    5.  His  adherents  and  part  of  his  family. 

Conclusion  —  Compare  Lot  and  Abraham, — sinner  and  saint. 


901.  Refusing  to  Return — ' '  They  have  refused  to  return. 
Jer.  5:3. 


310  THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 

902.  Rebelling  Against  the  Light — "They  are  of  those 
that  rebel  against  the  light."    Job  24: 13. 


903.  Opposing  the  Truth — "Now  as  Jannes  and  Jambres 
withstood  Moses,  so  do  these  also  resist  the  truth."    II.  Tim.  3:8. 


904.  Indifference  to  Christ — "And  Gallio  cared  for 
none  of  those  things."    Acts  18: 17. 


905.    A  Warning  Neglected  —  "When  he  was  set  down 

on  the  judgment  seat,  his  wife  sent  unto  him,  saying,  Have  thou 
nothing  to  do  with  that  just  man."    Matt.  27: 19. 


906.  The  Last  Chance  Thrown  Away —  "And  one  of  the 
malefactors  which  were  hanged  railed  on  him,  saying.  If  thou  be 
Christ,  save  th3-self  and  us."    Luke  23:39. 


907.  Despising  God's  Goodness — "Or  despisest  thou  the 
riches  of  his  goodness  and  forbearance  and  longsuffering  ? " 
Rom.  2:4. 


908.  God's  Forbearance  an  Excuse  for  Sin — "Because 
sentence  against  an  evil  work  is  not  executed  speedily,  therefore 
the  heart  of  the  sons  of  men  is  fully  set  in  them  to  do  evil." 
Eccles.  8:11. 


909.  A  Ruinous  Choice — "The  governor  answered  and 
said  unto  them.  Whether  of  the  twain  will  ye  that  I  release  unto- 
you?    They  said,  Barabbas."    Matt.  27:21. 


910.  A  False  Answer — "Pilate  saith  unto  them,  What 
shall  I  do  then  with  Jesus  which  is  called  Christ  ?  They  all  say 
unto  him,  Let  him  be  crucified."    Matt.  27:22. 


911.  Shirking  Responsibility — "And  as  soon  as  he  knew 
that  he  belonged  unto  Herod's  jurisdicftion,  he  sent  him  to  Herod,, 
who  himself  also  was  at  Jerusalem  at  that  time. ' '    Luke  23 : 7. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


311 


912.  A  Rich  Man's  Bad  Advice  to  Himself — "And  I  will 
say  to  my  soul,  Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods  laid  up  for  many 
years;  take  thine  ease,  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry."  lyuke  12: 19. 


913.  A  Contented  Sinner  and  a  Contented  Christian 
— ' '  Esau  said,  I  have  enough.  .  .  .  Jacob  said,  ...  I  have 
enough."    Gen.  33:9,  11. 


914,  An  Old  Excuse  —  "And  Saul  said  unto  Samuel,  I 
have  sinned :  for  I  have  transgressed  the  commandment  of  the 
Lord,  and  thy  words:  because  I  feared  the  people,  and  obeyed 
their  voice."    I.  Sam.  15:24. 


915.  Without  Excuse — "So  that  they  are  without  excuse. ' ' 
Rom.  1 : 20. 


(5.)  THE  SINNER  REJECTED. 


916.  Christ's  Final  AVithdrawal  —  "Then  said  Jesus 
again  unto  them,  I  go  my  way,  and  ye  shall  seek  me,  and  shall 
die  in  your  sins:  whither  I  go,  ye  cannot  come."    John  8:21. 


917.  The  Peril  of  Delay — "Go  thy  way  for  this  time; 
when  1  liave  a  convenient  season,  I  will  call  for  thee."  Adls 
24:25. 


918.  Jesus  Passing  By — "But  Jesus  hid  himself,  and  went 
out  of  the  temple,  going  through  the  midst  of  them,  and  so 
passed  by."    John  8:59. 


919.  Almost  Saved  —  * '  Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a 
Christian."    Adts  26:28. 

\   

920.  Critical  Periods  in  the  vSinner's  Life — "And  he 
came  and  sought  fruit  thereon,  and  found  none."  Luke  13:6. 
See  verses  6-9. 


312 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


921.  Turn  or  Burn — "If  he  turn  not,  he  will  whet  his 
sword;  he  hath  bent  his  bow,  and  made  it  ready."    Ps.  7: 12. 


922.  Neglect  of  Christ  the  Fatal  Sin — "And  ye  will 
not  come  to  me,  that  ye  might  have  life. ' '    John  5 : 40. 


923.  A  Fatal  Lament  —  "  The  har\'est  is  past,  the  summer 
is  ended,  and  we  are  not  saved."    Jer.  8:20. 


924.  Ineffectual  Repentance — "  And  Joab  fled  unto  the 
tabernacle  of  the  Lord,  and  caught  hold  on  the  horns  of  the 
altar."    I.  Kings  2:28. 


925.  Beyond  Mercy  —  "WTien  the  boughs  thereof  are 
withered,  they  shall  be  broken  off ;  the  women  come,  and  set 
them  on  fire."    Isa.  27:11. 


(6.)    RESULTS  OF  SIN. 


(a.)  In  This  Life. 


926.  A  World  in  Trouble — "And  in  those  times  there 
was  no  peace  to  him  that  went  out,  nor  to  him  that  came  in,  but 
great  vexations  were  upon  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  countries." 
II.  Chron.  15:5. 


927.  Terror  of  a  Guilty  Conscience  —  "Then  Jacob  was 
greatly  afraid  and  distressed."    Gen.  32:  7. 


928.  The  Unfailing  Detective  —  "Be  sure  3'our  sin  will 
find  you  out."    Num.  2>'^\2T). 

I.  How  have  we  sinned?  2.  Our  sin  will  expose  us.  3.  Exposure  may 
be  delayed,  or  may  be  sudden.  4.  Men's  consciences  condemn  and  reveal 
sin.  5.  Hypocrisy  condemned  by  Christ.  6.  The  wages  of  sin  is  death. 
7.  Christ  a' hiding  place.— Rev.  D.  O.  Darling. 


TEXTS,  subje;cts,  and  outunes.  313 

929.  "Conscience  Does  Make  Cowards  oe  Us  — 
■**  And  Ahab  said  to  Klijah.,  Hast  thou  found  me,  O  mine  enemy  ?" 
1.  Kings  21: 20. 


930.  A  TREMBI.ING  Audience  —  "Felix  trembled."  Adls 
.24:25. 


931.  ^  An  Accusing  Conscience — "And,  behold,  they  cried 
out,  sa34ng,  What  have  we  to  do  with  thee,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of 
God?  Art  thou  come  hither  to  torment  us  before  the  time?" 
Matt.  8:29. 


932.  A  Haunted  Conscience  —  "But  when  Herod  heard 
thereof,  he  said.  It  is  John,  whom  I  beheaded:  he  is  risen  from 
the  dead. '  *    Mark  6:16. 


933.  Cross  Without  Crown — "In  vain  have  I  smitten 
your  children."    Jer.  2:30. 


934.  Present  Pi^easure  INI  ay  Bring  Future  Pain — "For 
all  these  things  God  will  bring  thee  into  judgment."  Bccles. 
11:9.    See  context. 


935.  W11.D  Oats — "Be  not  deceived;  God  is  not  mocked: 
for  whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also  reap."    Gal.  6:7. 


936.  Spirituai.  Suicide — "Thou  hast  destroyed  thyself." 
Hos.  13:9. 

1.  The  seat  of  injury  —  thyself. 

2.  The  extent  of  the  injury  —  destroyed. 

3.  The  date  of  the  injury  —  hast. 

4.  The  responsibility  for  the  injury — thou. —  Rev.  C.  S.  Robinson,  D.  D. 


937.  Sowing  the  Wind  —  "For  they  have  sown  the  wind, 
and  they  shall  reap  the  whirlwind:  it  hath  no  stalk:  the  bud  shall 
yield  no  meal:  if  so  be  it  jdeld,  the  strangers  shall  swallow  it 
up."    Hos.  8:7. 


938.  The  UnproeitabeEness  OE  Sin — "  I  have  sinned,  and 
perverted  that  which  was  right,  and  it  profited  me  not."  Job 
33  ••27. 


314  THJi  GOSPKI^  WORKKK'S  TRl^ASURY. 

939*  Sin  Its  Own  Punishment — "Evil  shall  slay  tlie 
wicked."    Ps.  34:21. 


940.  CuRSB  THE  Sinner — "The  memory  of  the  just  is 
blessed:  but  the  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot."    Pro  v.  10:7. 


941.  Ruins — "But  they  were  the  ruin  of  him,  and  of  all 
Israel."    II.  Chron.  28:23. 


942.  Emptiness  oe  a  Worldey  Liee — "Wherefore  do  ye 
spend  money  for  that  which  is  not  bread  ?  and  your  labor  for  that 
which  satisfieth  not  ? ' '    Isa.  55:2. 


\    943»   Sin  Destroys  the  Sense  oe  Right  (Conscience)  — 
'  **  Evil  men  understand  not  judgment."    Prov.  28:5. 


944.  Slavery  oe  the  Ineidel — * '  While  they  promise  them 
liberty,  they  themselves  are  the  servants  of  corruption. ' '  II.  Peter 
2: 19. 


945.  The  Failure  oe  the  Wicked — "He  that  covereth  his 
sins  shall  not  prosper."    Prov.  28: 13. 


946.  Satan's  Fanatics  —  "And  they  cried  aloud,  and  cut 
themselves  after  their  manner  with  knives  and  lancets,  till  the 
blood  gushed  out  upon  them."    I.  Kings  18:28. 


947.  A  Spiritual  Tramp — "Having  no  hope,  and  without 
God  in  the  world."    Eph.  2:12. 

The  sinner  is:  i.  Homeless;  2.  Friendless;  3.  Hopeless;  4.  Godless. 


948.  A  Troubler  in  Israel — "There  is  an  accursed  thing 
in  the  midst  of  thee,  O  Israel."    Josh.  7:13. 


-*  949»  Sin  the  Cause  oe  False  Thinking — "And  even  as 
they  did  not  like  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge,  God  gave 
them  over  to  a  reprobate  mind. ' '    Rom.  i :  28. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES. 


315 


950.  Destructiveness  oe  Sin — "One  sinner  destroy etk 
much  good. '  *    Kccles.  9:18. 


951.  To-MoRROW — "Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow;  for 
thou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth."    Prov.  27:  i. 


952.  Considering  Death  —  "O  that  they  were  wise,  that 
they  understood  this,  that  they  would  consider  their  latter  end." 
Deut.  32:29. 


^  953.  The  Sinner's  Death-Struggle  — '  *  And  lie  cast  down 
the  pieces  of  silver  in  the  temple,  and  departed,  and  went  and 
hanged  himself."    Matt.  27:5. 


954.  A  Wealthy  Family  in  Deep  Sadness — "The  rich 
man  also  died,  and  was  buried."    lyuke  16:22. 


955.  Preparing  for  Death — "Set  thine  house  in  order: 
for  thou  shalt  die,  and  not  live."    Isa.  38:1. 


956.  Dying  Regrets  —  "And  thou  mourn  at  the  last,  when 
thy  flesh  and  thy  body  are  consumed,  and  say,  How  have  I  hated 
instru(5lion,  and  my  heart  despised  reproof."    Prov.  5:11,  12. 


957.  Death  a  Surprise  —  "Be  ye  therefore  ready  also:  for 
the  Son  of  man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye  think  not. ' '  Luke 
12:40. 


958.  Numbering  Our  Days — "So  teach  us  to  number  our 
days,  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom."    Ps.  90: 12. 


{b.)  Death. 


316 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


959»  Uncertainty  oe  the  Future  —  "Whereas  ye  know 
not  what  shall  be  on  the  morrow.  For  what  is  your  life  ?  It  is 
even  a  vapor,  that  appeareth  for  a  little  time,  and  then  vanisheth 
away."    Jas.  4: 14. 


960.  Transitoriness  op  lyiEE  —  "For  what  is  your  life?" 
Jas.  4:14.    See  context. 


{c.)  In  Eternity. 


\j  961.    Sin's  Harvest  Home  —  "And  sin,  when  it  is  finished, 
Dringeth  forth  death. ' '    James  1:15. 


962.  The  Wages  oe  Sin — "For  the  wages  of  sin  is  death; 
but  the  gift  t)f  God  is  eternal  life  through  Jesus  Christ  our  lyord. '  * 
Rom.  6:23. 


^  963.  Everlasting  Unrest  oe  Sin — "But  the  wicked  are 
like  the  troubled  sea,  when  it  cannot  rest,  whose  waters  cast  up 
mire  and  dirt.  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked.** 
Isa.  57:20,  21. 


964.  A  Problem  in  Soul  Insurance — "For  what  is  a  man 
profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul.?"    Matt.  16:26. 


^'\^965.   The  Inevitable  Result  oe  Sin — "The  soul  that 
smneth,  it  shall  die."    Ezek.  18:20. 


966.  Sinners  in  Zion  Described  and  Doomed — Amos 
6:  i-ii. 


967.   The  Rich  Man  and  I^azarus — lyuke  16:19-31. 
The  occasion  and  matter  of  the  parable. 

Remarks — i.  Those  who  die  Christians  go  immediately  to  heaven. 
2.  Those  who  die  sinners  go  immediately  to  hell.  3.  All  sinners  will  pray 
sooner  or  later.  4.  Those  who  lose  their  souls  will  remember  what  took 


te:xts,  subjects,  and  ou'i%ine:s. 


place  on  earth.  5.  We  see  what  the  damned  would  say,  were  they  to  come 
back  to  this  world.  6.  We  learn  that  sinners  in  hell  are  not  yet  convinced 
of  the  awful  depravity  of  the  heart.  The  rich  man  thought  that  moral 
suasion,  if  increased  to  a  certain  amount,  would  be  sufficient  to  bring  sin- 
ners to  repentance.  7.  Finally,  learn  from  this  subjedl  that  our  Savior  was 
a  very  plain  preacher. 


968.   Tokens  oe  Perdition — Matt.  24:32,  33. 

I.  The  first  token  of  perdition  I  shall  mention  is  vicious  habits;  2.  Infi- 
delity, or  universalism;  3.  A  false  hope  and  a  false  profession;  4.  The 
approach  of  age  without  religion;  5.  A  state  of  carnal  security ;  6.  A  sat- 
isfadlion  with  worldly  good;  7.  A  presumptuous  confidence  in  God's 
mercy;  8.  Profanation  of  the  Sabbath  and  neglecft  of  the  means  of  grace; 

9.  A  contention  against  the  truth,  and  a  demand  for  smooth  prophesyings; 

10.  The  reje(5tion  of  many  calls. 

In  many  instances  these  tokens  cluster.  Half  a  dozen  may  be  found  on 
the  same  man;  all  may  be  found  on  some. —  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin. 


969.  The  Impassable  Gule — "And  beside  all  this,  be- 
tween US  and  you  there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed."    lyuke  16: 26. 

I.  That  great  gulf  exists  already  in  this  life,  between  the  Christian  and 
the  sinner:  i.  In  their  thoughts;  2.  In  their  feelings;  3.  In  their  purposes. 

II.  That  gulf  can  in  this  life  be  bridged  by  the  cross  of  Christ. 

III.  In  the  next  life  the  gulf  becomes  impassable. 


970.  The  Eternal  Separation — "  Therefore  the  ungodly 
vShall  not  stand  in  the  judgment,  nor  sinners  in  the  congregation 
of  the  righteous. "    Ps.  1:5. 


971,  A  Terrible  Bankruptcy —  "And  his  lord  was  wroth, 
and  delivered  him  to  the  tormentors,  till  he  should  pay  all  that 
was  due  unto  him. ' '    Matt.  18 : 34. 


972.  Christ's  Doctrine  of  Future  Punishment — "And 
these  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment:  but  the  right- 
eous into  life  eternal."    Matt.  25:46. 


973.   The  Bible's  Idea  oe  Hell — Ivuke  16: 19-31. 


974.  Fruitless  Cries  oe  the  Impenitent — "And  they 
have  not  cried  unto  me  with  their  heart,  w^hen  they  howled  upon 
their  beds."    Hos.  7:14. 


318         '      THE  gospe;i.  worker's  treasury. 

975.  The  Road  to  Death— "  For  if  ye  live  after  the  flesli, 
ye  shall  die."    Rom.  8: 13. 


976.  Barred  Out — "Know  ye  not  that  the  unrighteous 
shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God?"    I.  Cor.  6:9. 


977.   Surprises  at  the  Judgment  Day — Matt.  25:31-46. 


978.  The  Flood  Came  at  Last — "And  knew  not  until 
the  flood  came  and  took  them  all  away."    Matt.  24:39. 


979.  An  Awful  Partnership — "But  the  fearful,  and  un- 
helieving,  and  the  abominable,  and  murderers,  and  whoremongers, 
and  sorcerers,  and  idolaters,  and  all  liars,  shall  have  their  part  in 
the  lake  which  bumeth  with  fire  and  brimstone:  which  is  the 
second  death."    Rev.  21:8.    See  Rev.  7:9-17. 


2.  MAN'S  SALVATION. 


(l.)  SALVATION. 


980.  The  Gospel's  Power — "Then  Jesus  answering  said 
unto  them.  Go  your  way,  and  tell  John  what  things  ye  have 
seen  and  heard;  how  that  the  blind  see,  the  lame  walk,  the  lepers 
are  cleansed,  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised,  to  the  poor  the 
gospel  is  preached."    Luke  7:22. 


981.  The  Power  oe  the  Gospel — *'It  is  the  power  of 
God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth."    Rom.  i :  16. 


982.  The  Eternal  Question — "Good  Master,  what  shall 
I  do  that  I  may  inherit  eternal  life  ?  "    Mark  10: 17. 


983.  The  Question  of  the  Ages — "Sirs,  what  must  I  do 
to  be  saved  ? ' '    A(5ts  16 : 30. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES. 


319 


984.  The  Highest  Cause  eor  Joy — "Son,  be  of  good 
cheer;  thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee."    Matt.  9:  2. 

I.  The  miserable  condition  of  a  human  being — sinful  and  sick.  2.  The 
power  and  love  of  Jesus.  3.  The  joyous  change  produced. 


985.  The  GospeIv  River — "Everything  shall  live  whither 
the  river  cometh. ' '    Ezek.  17:9. 


986.   The  Vision  of  Dry  Bones — See  Ezek.  37:1-10. 


987.  A  FaiThfui.  Saying  — ' '  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and 
worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the  world 
to  save  sinners;  of  whom  I  am  chief."    I.  Tim.  1:15. 


988.  The  Thoroughness  of  Sai^vation — "Who  forgiveth 
sll  thine  iniquities;  who  healeth  all  thy  diseases."    Ps.  103:3. 


989.  Abounding  Grace  of  the  Gospee — "And  yet  there 
is  room."    I^uke  14:22. 


990.  Rescue  from  Sin  —  "To  proclaim  liberty  to  the  cap- 
lives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them  that  are  bound." 
Isa.  61: 1. 


991.  SA1.VAT10N  Costs  Oney  the  Asking — "For  whoso- 
■ever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved. ' '  Rom. 
10:13. 


992.  The  Protected  Peopee — "Come  not  near  any  man 
upon  whom  is  the  mark."    Ezek.  9:6.    See  context. 


993.  The  Last  Chance  —  "How  shall  we  escape,  if  we 
neglect  so  great  salvation  ? ' '    Heb.  2:3. 


994.  Not  Far  from  the  Kingdom — "Thou  art  not  far 
from  the  kingdom. "    Mark  12  :34. 


320 


THt;  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


.995*  A  Dying  Robber  Saved  —  "And  Jesus  said  unto 
liim,  Verily  I  say  unto  thee,  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in 
paradise. ' '    lyuke  23 : 43 . 


996.  An  Undivided  Famiey — "And  Noah  went  in,  and 
his  sons,  and  his  wife,  and  his  sons'  wives  with  him,  into  the 
ark,  because  of  the  waters  of  the  flood."    Gen.  7:7. 


997.  Rescue  from  Fire  — ' '  And  others  save  with  fear, 
pulling  them  out  of  the  fire."    Jude  23. 


998.  Why  are  Men  Saved?  —  "Nevertheless  he  saved 
them  for  his  name's  sake,  that  he  might  make  his  mighty  power 
to  be  known."    Ps.  106; 8. 


999*    Shut  In — "And  the  Lord  shut  him  in."    Gen.  7:16. 


looo.  An  Auspicious  Day — -"Behold,  now  is  the  accepted 
time;  behold,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation."    II.  Cor.  6:2. 


looi.  A  Harvest  oe  Soues — "Behold,  the  days  come, 
saith  the  I^ord,  that  the  plowman  shall  overtake  the  reaper,  and 
the  treader  of  grapes  him  that  soweth  seed."    Amos  9: 13. 


1002.  Good  News  from  a  Far  Country — "As  cold 
waters  to  a  thirsty  soul,  so  is  good  news  from  a  far  country." 
Prov.  25:25. 


1003.  Ceouds  oe  Doves — "Who  are  these  that  fly  as  a 
cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to  their  windows        Isa.  60: 8. 

I.  Who  are  these  converts,  that  they  should  be  so  many  ?  i.  Sinners  are 
many.  2.  Christ's  redemption  is  great.  3.  His  blessings  are  attractive.  4. 
Shall  Satan  have  the  preeminence  in  numbers  at  the  last?  5.  The  Spirit 
of  God  is  able  to  draw  many.  6.  Heaven  is  great  and  there  is  room  for 
hosts  of  souls. 

II.  Who  are  they,  that  they  should  fly  ?  i.  In  great  danger.  2.  Time  is 
short.  3,  They  are  driven  by  a  great  wind,  the  Holy  Spirit.  4.  They  are 
moved  by  strong  desire. 

III.  Who  are  they,  that  they  should  fly  together?  i.  In  common  danger. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTEINES. 


321 


2.  One  common  objedl,  seeking  the  Savior.  3,  They  are  wafted  by  the 
same  heavenly  wind,  the  Holy  Spirit.  4.  They  find  comfort  in  each  other's 
society.    5.  They  hope  to  live  together  forever  above. 

IV.  Who  are  they,  that  they  should  fly  this  way?  i.  Seeking  safety  in 
Jesus.  2.  Desiring  rest  in  his  love.  3.  Finding  a  home  in  his  heart. 
4.  Their  companions  are  there.  5.  Their  young  are  there.  6.  Their  food 
is  there.    7.  Their  all  is  there. 

V.  But  who  are  they  individually  ?  i.  Our  children.  2.  Our  Sabbath- 
school  scholars.  3.  Old  gospel-hardened  hearers.  4.  Strangers.  5.  Re- 
turning backsliders.  6.  Those  whom  we  have  been  seeking  in  prayer  and 
by  personal  address. — Spurgeon. 


(2.)  INVITATION. 


1004.  A  Cheering  **May  Be"  —  ''Seek  ye  the  Lord  .  .  .  . 
it  may  be  ye  shall  be  hid  in  the  day  of  the  Lord's  anger."  Zeph: 
2:3.    See  I.  Sam.  14:6;  II.  Sam.  16:12;  II.  Kings  7:4;  Jonah  3:9. 


1005.  The  Divine  Demand  —  "My  son,  give  me  thine 
heart."    Prov.  23:26. 


loo6.  The  Life  Look  —  "Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved, 
all  the  ends  of  the  earth:  for  I  am  God,  and  there  is  none  else." 
Isa.  45: 22. 


1007.  Walking  in  the  Light  —  "O  house  of  Jacob,  come 
ye,  and  let  us  walk  in  the  light  of  the  Lord."    Isa.  2:5. 


ioo8.  Rest  for  the  Soul — "Ask  for  the  old  paths,  where 
is  the  good  way,  and  walk  therein,  and  ye  shall  find  rest  for  your 
souls."    Jer.  6: 16. 


1009.  A  Kindly  Invitation  —  **Come  thou  with  us,  and 
we  will  do  thee  good."    Num.  10:29. 

I.  Christians  are  journeying.   2.  Christians  desire  others,  and  especially 
their  kindred,  to  journey  with  them.    3.  Those  whom  they  cannot  per- 
suade to  go  with  them  they  must  give  the  parting  hand. 
21 


-322  the:  gospel  worker's  treasury. 

Toxo.  A  Public  Profession  of  Religion —Matt.  10:32,33. 

I.  It  is  due  to  the  world;  2.  Due  to  the  Church;  3.  Due  to  yourself- 
4.  Due  to  Christ.  ' 


loix.  Men's  Souls  God's  Property — "Behold,  all  souls 
are  mine."    Bzek.  18:4. 


IOI2.  Acquaintance  with  God  Brings  Peace — "Ac- 
quaint now  thyself  with  him,  and  be  at  peace:  thereby  good  shall 
come  unto  thee. ' '    Job  22:21. 


1013.  A  Midnight  Cry  — "Awake  thou  that  sleepest,  and 
arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  shall  give  thee  light."  Kph.  5: 14. 


1014.  Come  and  See  — ' '  Philip  saith  unto  him,  Come  and 
see."    John  1:46. 


1015.  At  the  Parting  op  the  Ways — "Enter  ye  in  at 
the  strait  gate,"  etc.    Matt.  7: 13. 


loi6.  A  Knocking  Savior — "It  is  the  voice  of  my  be- 
loved that  knocketh."    Canticles  5:2. 


X017.  Love  on  the  Aggressive — "And  the  lord  said  un- 
to the  servant,  Go  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and  com- 
pel them  to  come  in,  that  my  house  may  be  filled."    Luke  14:23. 


xox8.  A  Broad  Invitation — "And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride 
say,  Come.  And  let  him  that  heareth  say,  Come.  And  let  him 
that  is  athirst  come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water 
of  life  freely."    Rev.  22: 17. 


XOX9.  Christ's  Call  to  Souls  in  the  Dark — "And 
they  call  the  blind  man,  saying  unto  him,  Be  of  good  comfort, 
rise;  he  calleth  thee. "    Mark  10:49. 


X020.  Called  and  Chosen — "For  many  are  called,  but 
few  are  chosen."    Matt.  22: 14. 


TKXTS,  SUBJE^CTS,  AND  OUTLINES.  323 

I02I.  Thk  Savior's  Invitation — **Come  unto  me,  all  ye 
tliat  labor  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  Matt. 
11:28. 


i:022.  LiNGKRiNG  lyOT — "And  wliile  lie  lingered,  the  men 
laid  hold  upon  his  hand  .  .  .  ;  the  Lord  being  merciful  unto 
liim:  and  they  brought  him  forth,  and  set  him  without  the  city." 
Gen.  19: 16. 


1023.  A  Solemn  Skarch  — ''Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he 
may  be  found,  call  ye  upon  him  while  he  is  near."    Isa.  55: 6. 


1024.  Why  Serve;  the  Lord?  —  "Serve  ye  the  Lord." 
Joshua  24: 14. 

1025.  A  Princely  Guest — "Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door, 
and  knock."    Rev.  3:20 


1026.  Two  Classes  oe  Hindered  Seekers — Mark  10:13, 
14;  2: 16,  17. 

1027.  A  Great  Election — "Choose  you  this  day  whom 
ye  will  serve."    Joshua  24: 15. 

X028.  Free  Salvation — "Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth, 
come  ye  to  the  waters,  and  he  that  hath  no  money;  come  ye, 
buy,  and  eat;  yea,  come,  buy  wine  and  milk  without  money  and 
without  price."    Isa.  55:  i. 


1029.  A  Necessary  Purchase — "I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of 
me  gold  tried  in  the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich;  and  white 
raiment,  that  thou  mayest  be  clothed,  and  that  the  shame  of  thy 
nakedness  do  not  appear;  and  anoint  thine  eyes  with  eye-salve, 
that  thou  mayest  see."    Rev.  3: 18. 


(3.)  REPENTANCE. 


1030.  The  Bitterness  oe  Repentance — "They  .  .  .  shall 
he  in  bitterness  for  him."    Zech.  12: 10. 


324 


THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


1031.  The  Mourning  of  Repentance  —  "And  the  land 
shall  mourn,"    Zech.  12: 12.    See  two  preceding  verses. 


1032.  The  Bitter  and  the  Sweet — "Behold,  for  peace  I 
had  great  bitterness ;  but  thou  hast  in  love  to  my  soul  delivered 
it  from  the  pit  of  corruption:  for  thou  hast  cast  all  my  sins  be- 
hind thy  back. "    Isa.  38:17. 

I.  Healthful  bitterness,  i.  He  had  been  in  peace,  carnally  secure,  care- 
less, worldly.  2.  He  underwent  a  change.  3.  His  new  state  was  one  of 
emphatic  sorrow  —  bitterness.  4.  It  wrought  his  health;  it  led  him  to  re- 
pentance, prayer,  self-knowledge,  cleansing  of  self,  faitii.  5.  Peace  came 
again,  and  with  it  songs  of  joy. 

II.  Delivering  love.  i.  The  deed  of  love.  2.  The  love  which  performed 
the  deed. 

III.  Absolute  pardon,    i.  Restored  peace.   2.  The  whole  burden  re- 
moved. 3,  This  involved  effort  on  God's  part.  4.  Wonderfully  described. 
"Behind  thy  back" — a.  Place  of  desertion,  b.  Place  of  forgetfulness. 
Place  of  nonentity. — Spurgeon. 


1033.  The  Need  of  Repentance  —  "And  they  went  out, 
and  preached  that  men  should  repent."    Mark  6: 12. 


1034.  TROUBI.ESOME  Thoughts  —  "His  thoughts  troubled 
him."    Dan.  5:6. 


1035.  Recollection  oe  Faults  —  "I  do  remember  my 
faults  this  day. ' '    Gen.  41:9. 


1036.  Repentance  —  "Then  shall  remember  3'our  own 
evil  wa\^s,  and  3-our  doings  that  were  not  good,  and  shall  loathe 
3-ourselves  in  your  own  sight  for  your  iniquities  and  for  your 
abominations."    Ezek.  36:31. 


1037.  Ren^'nciation  of  the  AVorst,  and  Acceptance  of 
THE  Best  —  "Wherefore  la3'ing  aside  all  malice,  and  all  guile, 
and  hypocrisies,  and  envies,  and  all  evil  speakings,  as  new-born 
babes,  desire  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,  that  ye  may  grow 
thereby."    I.  Pet.  2:1-2. 


1038.  The  Conditions  of  Divine  Pardon  — ' '  Let  the 
wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unrighteous  man  his  thoughts: 
and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have  mercy  upon 
him;  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon."  Isa.  55:7. 
See  Ezek.  18:21,  22. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES. 


325 


1039.  A  Sorcerer  Admonished  —  "Repent  therefore  of 
this  thy  wickedness,  and  pray  God,  if  perhaps  the  thought  of 
thine  heart  may  be  forgiven  thee. ' '    A6ts  8: 22. 

Introduction  —  Historical  connexions. 

I.  The  wicked  intentions  of  men  require  pardon.  2.  The  means  by  which 
the  wicked  are  to  seek  peace  with  God  are  repentance  and  prayer.  3.  The 
bare  possibility  of  success  should  encourage  the  sinner  to  use  this  means 
of  grace. —  H.  R.  Raymond,  D.  D. 


1040.  The  Supreme  Inquiry — "Dost  thou  believe  on  the 
Son  of  God?"    John  9:35. 

I.  The  nature  of  the  belief  2.  The  importance  of  the  question.  3.  The 
personal  character  of  the  question.  4.  But  one  of  two  answers  can  be 
given. 


1041.  What  to  Do  with  Sins — "He  that  covereth  his 
^ins  shall  not  prosper;  but  whoso  confesseth  and  forsaketh  them 
shall  have  mercy. ' '    Prov.  28:13. 


1042.  Returning  to  God  —  "Return  ye  now  every  one 
from  his  evil  way,  and  make  your  ways  and  your  doings  good. ' ' 
Jer.  18:  II. 

I.  What:  return.  ] 

II.  When:  now. 

III.  Who:  everyone. 

IV.  From  what :  from  his  evil  way. 

V.  To  what:  "Make  your  ways  and  your  doings  good. " —  Spurgeon. 


1043.  Choosing  God's  Service  and  Peopi^e — "And  Ruth 
«aid,  Kntreat  me  not  to  leave  thee,  or  to  return  from  following 
after  thee:  for  whither  thou  goest,"  etc.    Ruth  i:  16,  17. 


1044.  A  Successful  Sermon — "Now  when  they  heard 
this,  they  were  pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said  unto  Peter  and  to 
the  rest  of  the  apostles.  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do.?" 
Adts  2:37. 


1045.  Put  Gee  the  Oed  Man— "That  ye  put  off  concern- 
ing the  former  conversation  the  old  man,  which  is  corrupt  ac- 
cording to  the  deceitful  lusts."    Kph.  4: 22. 


326 


the;  gospei<  worker's  treasury. 


1046.  Heaven's  Joy  over  Repentant  Sinners — "There 
is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that 
repenteth."    Luke  15:10. 


1047,  Anxiety  for  Eternal  Liee  Not  Airways  a  Will- 
ingness TO  Accept  It — "And  he  was  sad  at  that  saying,  and 
went  away  grieved."    Mark  10:22. 


1048.  Useless  Repentance — "Then  Judas,  which  had  be- 
trayed him,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  condemned,  repented  him- 
self."   Matt.  27:3. 


1049.  The  Seeker  Encouraged — "Fear  not  ye:  for  I 
know  that  ye  seek  Jesus,  which  was  crucified."    Matt.  28:5. 


1050.  Pardon  for  the  Penitent  —  "Because  he  consid- 
ereth,  and  turneth  away  from  all  his  transgressions  that  he  hath 
committed,  he  shall  surely  live,  he  shall  not  die."    Ezek.  18:28. 


1051.  The  Way  to  the  Kingdom — "  The  kingdom  of  God 
is  at  hand:  repent  ye,  and  believe  the  gospel."    Mark  i:  15. 


(4.)  CONVERSION. 


1052.  Necessity  of  Conversion — "Except  a  man  be  borm 
again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."    John  3:3. 


1053.  Christian  Life  Demands  a  New  Vital  Power — 
"Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thee.  Ye  must  be  born  again.'*" 
John  3:7. 


1:054.    ^  Right  Start  in  Life — Heb.  11:24,  26. 


1055.  The  Ethiopian  —  "Can  the  Ethiopian  change  his 
skin?"    Jer.  13:23. 

First  question  —  Can  the  Kthiopian  change  his  skin  ? 
First  answer —  Never! 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI^INES. 


327 


Second  question  —  Can  the  I^thiopian's  skin  be  changed? 
Second  answer — Yes;  by  the  power  of  God. 


1056.  A  WoNDKRPUL  Change  —  "  Therefore  if  any  man  be 
in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature:  old  things  are  passed  away;  be- 
hold, all  things  are  become  new."    II.  Cor.  5: 17. 


1057.  Regeneration  —  "Of  his  own  will  begat  he  us  with 
the  word  of  truth,  that  we  should  be  a  kind  of  firstfruits  of  his 
creatures."    James  1:18. 

I.  Its  nature,  the  origination  ©f  a  new  life.  2.  Its  instrumentality,  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  3.  Its  author,  "The  Father  of  lights. "  4.  Its  ulti- 
mate cause,  "Of  his  own  will."  5.  Its  purpose  —  subordinate,  "firstfruits"; 
ultimate,  "the  praise  of  his  glory." 


1058.  Conversion  a  Reasonable  Requirement — John  3 : 7. 

Sinners  would  not  be  happ}'  if  taken  to  heaven  without  a  change  of  heart: 
for  they  would  not  be  fitted  for  it,  because:  i.  It  is  a  holy  place;  2.  It  is 
a  place  of  ineffable  glory;  3.  The  inhabitants  of  heaven  are  holy;  4.  The 
employments  of  heaven  are  holy. 


1059.  A  Spiritual  Birthday — **If  any  man  be  in  Christ, 
he  is  a  new  creature."    II.  Cor.  5:17. 


io6o.   The  Conversion  oe  Zaccheus — I^uke  19:9,  10. 


1061.   The  Conversion  of  the  Eunuch— A(5ls  8:26-39. 


1062.  Dead  unto  Sin,  Alive  unto  God  —  "Likewise 
reckon  ye  also  yourselves  to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but  alive 
unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."    Roni.  6:11. 


1063.   Assurance  Attainable  —  Rom.  8:38,39.    See  v.  16. 


106I4.  A  Profitable  Exchange  —  "Anew  heart  also  will 
I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put  within  you:  and  I  will 
take  away  the  stony  heart  out  of  your  flesh,  and  I  will  give  you 
a  heart  of  flesh. ' '    Ezek.  36 : 26. 


323 


THK  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


1065.  Thorough  Washing — ' '  Come  now,  and  let  us  reason 
together,  saitli  the  Lord:  though  3^our  sins  be  as  scarlet,  thej- 
shall  be  as  white  as  snow;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they 
shall  be  as  wool."    Isa.  i :  18. 


lo66.  Whiter  than  Snow — "Wash  me,  and  I  shall  be 
whiter  than  snow."    Ps.  51 : 7. 


1067.  A  Quiet  Conversion — "Whose  heart  the  Lord 
opened,  that  she  attended  unto  the  things  which  were  spoken  of 
Paul."    Adts  16: 14.    Compare  with  Adts  9:3-6. 


1068.  False  Notions  oe  Conversion  —  *  *  But  Naaman  was 
wroth,  and  went  away,  and  said.  Behold,  I  thought.  He  will 
surely  come  out  to  me,  and  stand,  and  call  on  the  name  of  the 
Lord  his  God,  and  strike  his  hand  over  the  place,  and  recover  the 
leper."    II.  Kings  5:11. 


1069.  Evidences  oe  Conversion — "We  know  that  we 
have  passed  from  death  unto  life."    I.  John  3:14. 

I.  New  afFedlions,  E)zek.  36:26.  2.  Love  of  brethren,  I.  John  3:14.  3. 
Love  of  God,  I.  John  5:2.  4.  Keeping  God's  law,  I.  John  2:5.  5.  Con- 
sciousness of  God's  love,  I.  John  4:16.  6.  Presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in 
us,  I.  John  4:13.  7.  Ascribing  salvation  to  Christ,  I.  Johr  4:14,  15.  8. 
Giving  us  to  know  the  things  of  God,  I.  Cor.  2:12.  9.  Diredl  witness  of 
the  Spirit,  Rom.  8: 16. 


1070.  Christopathy — "With  his  stripes  we  are  healed." 
Isa.  53:5. 


.  1071.  Man's  Share  in  Conversion — "Cast  away  from 
you  all  your  transgressions,  whereby  ye  have  transgressed;  and 
make  you  a  new  heart  and  a  new  spirit:  for  why  will  ye  die,  O 
house  of  Israel?"    Ezek.  18:31.    See  Ezek.  36:26. 


1072.  The  Means  oe  Sai^vation  —  "Therefore  being  justi- 
fied by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."    Rom.  5:1. 


I.  God  here  treats  sin  as  a  disease. 

II.  God  here  declares  the  remedy.  , 

III.  This  Divine  remedy  is  immediately  efife(5live. 

IV.  Application. —  Spurgeon. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI^INES. 


329 


1073.  Justification  by  Faith — "But  the  just  shall  live 
hy  his  faith."    Hab.  2:4.    See  Rom.  1:17;  Gal.  3:11;  Heb.  10:38. 


1074.  The  Supreme  Inquiry — "Dost  thou  believe  on  the 
Son  of  God?"    John  9:35. 


1075.     BvERIvASTlNG    lylFE   A   PRESENT    POSSESSION — "He 

that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life:  and  he  that  be- 
lieveth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life;  but  the  wrath  of  God 
abideth  on  him. "    John  3:36. 


1076*  A  Divine  Morning  Hour — "But  unto  you  that  fear 
my  name  shall  the  Sun  of  righteousness  arise  with  healing  in  his 
wings."    Mai.  4:2. 


1077,  Fruits  op  Conversion — "And  he  took  them  the 
same  hour  of  the  night,  and  washed  their  stripes;  and  was  bap- 
tized, he  and  all  his,  straightway.  And  when  he  had  brought 
them  into  his  house,  he  set  meat  before  them,  and  rejoiced,  be- 
lieving in  God  with  all  his  house."    A(5ls  16:33,  34. 


1078.  A  Good  Reason  for  Joy — "Son,  be  of  good  cheer: 
thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee."    Matt.  9:2. 


1079.  The  Mystery  of  Conversion — "I  will  bring  the 
blind  by  a  way  that  they  knew  not;  I  will  lead  them  in  paths 
that  they  have  not  known."    Isa.  42:16. 


1080.  Conversion  Changes  the  Outward  Life — ' '  Neither 
shall  they  walk  any  more  after  the  imagination  of  their  evil  heart. ' ' 
Jer.  3:17. 


io8i.  The  Divine  Side  of  Conversion  —  "No  man  can 
come  to  me,  except  the  Father  which  hath  sent  me  draw  him." 
John  6:44. 


1082.  A  GivORious  Transformation  —  "Be  not  conformed 
to  this  world:  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  renewing  of  your 
mind,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and 
perfect  will  of  God."    Rom.  12:2. 


330 


THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREAvSURY. 


3.  CHRISTIAN  LIFE. 


(l.)  HOLINESS. 


1083.  Hating  Sin  — "The  fear  of  the  I,ord  is  to  hate  evil." 
Prov.  8:13. 


1084.  New  Basis  for  a  Morai,  Life — "If  ye  love  me, 
keep  my  commandments."    John  14: 15. 


1085.  The  IRREPRESSIB1.E  Antagonism — "Ye  cannot  serve 
God  and  mammon."    Matt.  6:24. 


1086.  The  Whole  Duty  of  Man  —  "I^etushear  the  con- 
clusion of  the  whole  matter:  Fear  God,  and  keep  his  command- 
ments: for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man."    Eccles.  12: 13. 


X087.  Obedience  to  God's  Commands  is  Life — "For  it 
is  not  a  vain  thing  for  you:  because  it  is  your  life."  Deut.  32:47. 
See  context. 


io88.   Advice  to  Young  Converts — See  Josh.  24:19-25. 


1089.  Enduring  to  the  End — "But  he  that  endureth  to 
the  end  shall  be  saved."    Matt.  10:22. 


1090.  The  Wii.es  of  the  Devil — "Put  on  the  whole 
armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  against  the  wiles  of 
the  devil. ' '    Eph.  6:11. 


1091.  Perseverance  a  Proof  of  Discipleship — "Mas- 
ter, I  will  follow  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest."  Matt.  8: 19. 
See  V.  22. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INES.  331 

1092.  Needed  Christian  Virtues — (Consistent  life,  unity,, 
love,  zeal,  and  courage.)    Phil.  1:27,  28. 


I093»  Way  of  Holiness — Isa.  35:8-10. 

I.  a  high  way.  2.  A  holy  way.  3.  A  plain  way.  4.  A  safe  way.  5.  A. 
delightful  way. 


1094.  lyiBERTY  OE  Heart  and  Wii.Iv — "Being  then  made 
free  from  sin,  ye  became  the  servants  of  righteousness."  Rom. 
6:18. 


1095.  Submission  the  Best  Defense — "But  yield  your- 
selves unto  God,  as  those  that  are  alive  from  the  dead."  Rom. 
6: 13.    See  context. 


1096.  Stand  Up  and  be  Counted — "  Be  ye  not  unequally 
yoked  together  with  unbelievers:  for  what  fellowship  hath  right- 
eousness with  unrighteousness  ?  and  what  communion  hath  light 
with  darkness  ?  "    II.  Cor.  6: 14. 


1097.  Spirituai,  Gymnastics  —  "Kxercise  thyself  rather 
unto  godliness."    I.  Tim.  4:7. 


1098.  Shining  Lights — "Let  your  light  so  shine  before 
men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father 
which  is  in  heaven."    Matt.  5: 16. 


1099.  Christian  Cui^ture  —  "Therefore  leaving  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  do(5lrine  of  Christ,  let  us  go  on  unto  perfe<5lion."^ 
Heb.  6:1. 


iioo.  Sorrow  for  the  Sins  of  Others — "Rivers  of 
waters  run  down  mine  eyes,  because  they  keep  not  thy  law."  Ps. 
119:136. 


i;ioi.  Love  to  God  Man's  First  Duty — "Jesus  said  un- 
to him,  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and 
with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,"  etc.    Matt.  22:37,  3^- 


332 


THE  GOSPEIv  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


II02.  Inconsistent  Christians — "They  feared  the  Lord, 
and  served  their  own  gods."    II.  Kings  17:33. 


1103.  Fruitless  Trees  Invite  Destruction — * '  Every  tree 
that  bringeth  not  forth  good  fruit  is  hewn  down,  and  cast  into 
the  fire."    Matt.  7: 19. 


(2.)  CHRISTIAN  PRIVILEGES. 


1104.  The  Joy  of  Reconciliation — "And  not  only  so, 
but  we  also  jo}'  in  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom 
w^e  have  now  received  the  atonement. ' '    Rom.  5:11. 


1105.  Religion  the  Basis  of  all  Success  —  "But  seek 
ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness;  and  all  these 
things  shall  be  added  unto  3'ou."    Matt.  6:33. 


lio6.  The  Soul  Set  Free  —  "And  3-e  shall  know  the 
truth,  and  the  truth  shall  make  you  free."    John  8:32. 


II07,  An  Unfailing  Bank — "But  mj  God  shall  supply 
all  vour  need  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus." 
Phil.  4:19. 


lio8.  A  Conspiracy  for  Good — "And  we  know  that  all 
things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God,  to  them 
who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose."    Rom.  8:28. 


1109.  Ye  Shall  Not  be  Ashamed — "Whosoever  be- 
lieveth  on  him  shall  not  be  ashamed."    Rom.  10: 11. 


iiio.  Christian  Liberty  —  "Stand  fast  therefore  in  the 
liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us  free,  and  be  not  entangled 
again  with  the  3'oke  of  bondage."    Gal.  5:1. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES.  335 

nil.  Filling  Empty  Vessels — "But  my  God  shall  supply- 
all  your  need  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by  Christ  Jesus." 
Phil.  4: 19. 


III2.  Religion  at  Home  —  "And  when  she  was  baptized, 
and  her  household,  she  besought  us,  saying.  If  ye  have  judged 
me  to  be  faithful  to  the  Lord,  come  into  my  house,  and  abide 
there."    Adts  16: 15. 


11x3.  Blessed  Privileges — "Blessed  are  the  eyes  which 
see  the  things  that  ye  see."    Luke  10: 23. 


1114.  Living  up  to  Privileges — "As  ye  have  therefore 
received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  him."    Col.  2:6. 


(3.)  PRAYER. 


1115.  The  Spirit  op  Prayer  — '  *  And  I  will  pour  upon  the 
house  of  David,  and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem,  the  spirit 
of  grace  and  of  supplications."    Zech.  12: 10. 


iii6.  The  Well-wrought  Prayer — "The  efifedlual  fer- 
vent prayer  of  a  righteous  man  availeth  much."    Jas.  5: 16. 


1117.  A  Blank  Check  —  "What  things  soever  ye  desire, 
when  ye  pray,  believe  that  ye  receive  them,  and  ye  shall  have 
them."    Mark  11:24. 


iii8.  A  Powerful  Prayer-meeting  —  "These  all  con- 
tinued with  one  accord  in  prayer  and  supplication. ' '    Adls  i :  14. 


1x19.  Blessing  the  Result  of  Prayer  —  "He  blessed 
him  there."    Gen.  32:29. 


XX20.  The  Sea  Captain's  Last  Resort  — "So  the  ship- 
master came  to  him,  and  said  unto  him,  What  meanest  thou,  O 
sleeper  ?  arise,  call  upon  thy  God,  if  so  be  that  God  will  think 
upon  us,  that  we  perish  not."    Jonah  i :  6. 


334 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


II2I.  Secret  Prayer  Rewarded  Openly  —  **But  thou, 
when  thou  pray  est,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast 
shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret ;  and  thy 
Father  which  seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thee  openly."  Matt. 
6:6. 


II22.  A  Captive  I^iberated  —  ''Peter  therefore  was  kept  in 
prison :  but  prayer  was  made  without  ceasing  of  the  church  unto 
God  for  him."    Adls  12: 5. r 


1123.  Prayer  eor' Promised  Blessing  Necessary — "Thus 
saith  the  Ivord  God ;  I  will  yet  for  this  be  inquired  of  by  the  house 
of  Israel,  to  do  it  for  them.^i^  Kzek.  36:37.    See  context. 


X124.  "A  Mother's,  Prayer  —  "And,  behold,  a  woman  of 
Canaan  came  out  of  the  same  coasts,  and  cried  unto  him,  saying, 
Have  mercy  on  mofO  Iyord,^thou  Son  of  David;  my  daughter  is 
grievously  vexed  with  a  devil."  „  Matt.  15:22. 


1125.  How  to  have  a  Revival  —  "  O  Lord  God,  forgive,  I 
beseech  thee."    Amos  7:  2, 


II26.  Signs  oe  a  True  Revival  —  "And  the  inhabitants 
of  one  city  shall  go  to  another,  saying,  Let  us  go  speedily  to 
pray  before  the  Lord,  and  to  seek  the  Lord  of  hosts:  I  will  go 
also."    Zech.  8:21. 


1127.  Prayer  eor  a  Renewed  Revival  —  "Wilt  thou  not 
revive  us  again:  that  thy  people  may  rejoice  in  thee ?  "   Ps.  85:6. 


II28.  Unheard  Prayers  —  "Ye  ask,  and  receive  not,  be- 
cause ye  ask  amiss,"    Jas.  4:3. 

Prayers  are  unheard  because  — 

I.  Hearts  are  corrupt. — Is.  59:  i,  2. 

II.  They  have  wrong  motives. — ^Jas.  4:3. 

III.  Lack  of  submissive  spirit,  Christ's  example.— Mark  14:36. 

IV.  Really  not  in  Jesus'  name. — John  16:23. 

V.  Lack  of  real,  earnest,  fervent  desire. — Luke  18:1-8. 

VI.  Lack  of  faith. — Jas.  1:7. 


1129.  Altar  Ruins  —  "And  he  repaired  the  altar  of  the 
Lord  that  was  broken  down."    I.  Kings  18: 30. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI^INES.  335 

II30.  A  Reiterated  Command  —  "Watch."  Mark  13: 
33-37. 


(4.)  FAITH. 


IX3I*  Victory  oe  Faith  —  **And  this  is  the  vidtory  that 
overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith."    I.  John  5:4. 


1132.  Omnipotence  oe  Faith  —  "And  nothing  shall  be 
impossible  unto  you."    Matt.  17:20. 


1133.  Unshaken  Faith  —  "That  we  henceforth  be  no  more 
children,  tossed  to  and  fro,  and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of 
dodlrine."    Eph.  4: 14. 


1134.  The  Anchor  oe  the  Soui,  —  "Which  hope  we  have 
as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast."    Heb.  6: 19. 


1135.  Doubt  Preventing  Bi^essing  —  "And  he  did  not 
many  mighty  works  there  because  of  their  unbelief."  Matt. 
13:58. 


1136.  The  Sin  oe  Unbewee  —  "Now,  behold,  if  the  I^ord 
should  make  windows  in  heaven,  might  such  a  thing  be  ? " 
II.  Kings  7: 19. 


1137.  Abiding  Faith  — ' '  Cast  not  away  therefore  your  con- 
fidence, which  hath  great  recompense  of  reward."    Heb.  10:35. 


ii;38.  Faith  Foresees  the  Victory  —  "lyct  us  go  up  at 
once,  and  possess  it;  for  we  are  well  able  to  overcome  it."  Num. 
13^30. 


1139.  No  Revivai,  without  Faith  —  "And  he  did  not 
many  mighty  works  there  because  of  their  unbelief. ' '  Matt.  13 : 58. 


336 


THE  GOSPEI/  worker's  treasury. 


(5.)    CONFESSING  CHRIST. 


1140.  The  Reward  oe  Confessing  Christ  —  "Whosoever 
therefore  shall  confess  me  before  men,  him  will  I  confess  also  be- 
fore my  Father  which  is  in  heaven."    Matt.  10:32. 


1141.  Witnessing  for  Christ — "And  ye  also  shall  bear 
witness."    John  15:27. 


Where  to  Bear  Witness — "Ye  shall  be  witnesses 
unto  me  .  .  .  unto  to  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth."    A(fts  1:8. 


1x43.  Witnessing  from  Personai,  Experience  —  "That 
which  we  have  seen  and  heard  declare  we  unto  you,  that  ye  also 
may  have  fellowship  with  us."    I.  John  1:3. 


1144.  PuBEic  Confession  of  Christ  Necessary  to  Sai.va- 
TiON  —  "If  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  I^ord  Jesus, 
and  shalt  believe  in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from 
the  dead,  thou  shalt  be  saved."    Rom.  10:9. 


1145.  What  a  Sincere  Confession  of  Christ  Proves — 
"Whosoever  shall  confess  that  Jesus  is  the  Son  of  God,  God 
dwelleth  in  him,  and  he  in  God."    I.  John  4: 15. 


(6.)  BACKSLIDING  CHRISTIANS. 


1146.  Losing  the  First  Love — "Nevertheless  I  have 
somewhat  against  thee,  because  thou  hast  left  thy  first  love." 
Rev.  2:4. 


II47«  Backseiders'  Lament  —  "And  the  foolish  said  untc^ 
the  wise,  Give  us  of  your  oil;  for  our  lamps  are  gone  out." 
Matt.  25:  8. 


TKXTS,  SUBJE^CTS,  AND  OUTI^INEIS. 


837 


1148.  Unconscious  Loss  01^  Power — "And  lie  wist  not 
that  the  Lord  was  departed  from  him."    Judges  16: 20. 


II49*  Thk  BACKSI.IDHR  IN  Hbart  —  "The  backslider  in 
heart  shall  be  filled  with  his  own  ways."    Prov.  14: 14. 


II50.  Hkarers  but  not  Doers  —  "For  they  hear  thy 
words,  but  they  do  them  not. ' '    Ezek.  33 : 32. 


1151.  Backswding  Christians  a  Comeort  to  Sinners — 
"Thou  art  a  comfort  unto  them."    Kzek.  16: 54. 

I.  Sinners  are  comforted,  i.  By  having  their  consciences  quieted  by 
the  inconsistent  lives  of  Christians.  2.  By  having  sin  made  respedlable. 
3.  By  receiving  actual  aid. 

II.  Christians  comfort  sinners,  i.  By  carelessly  falling  into  conspicu- 
ous sins.  2.  By  failing  in  their  covenant  fidelities  of  service.  3,  By  pee- 
vish fault-finding  with  the  church  for  severity  of  restridlion.  4.  By  a  spirit 
of  murmuring  against  Divine  discipline.  5.  By  sinking  into  the  chill  of 
indifference  as  to  docftrine  or  pradlice. 

III.  Is  there  any  real  comfort  to  anybody  in  all  this  after  all  ? 


1152.  The  Backslider's  Question  —  "Will  the  Lord  cast 
off  forever?  and  will  he  be  favorable  no  more?  Is  his  mercy 
clean  gone  forever?  doth  his  promise  fail  forevermore ? "  Ps. 
77:7,  8. 


1153.   God's  Lament  over  tpie  Backslider — Hos.  11:8,9. 


1154.  The  Holy  Rod  Cast  Upon  the  Ground — Kx. 
4: 2-4. 

The  dreadful  results  of  casting  down  holy  things.  Among  holy  things 
are:  i.  Fallen  vows.  2.  Prostration  of  secret,  family,  and  public  altars. 
3.  The  only  way  to  get  out  of  danger  is  to  take  hold  of  the  serpent. 


1155.   An  Basy  Religion  a  False  One — "They  have 
healed  also  the  hurt  of  the  daughter  of  my  people  slightly,  say- 
ing, Peace,  peace;  when  there  is  no  peace."    Jer.  6: 14. 
22 


338 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


X156.  IvUKEWARMNESS  —  "  Because  thou  art  lukewarm,  and 
neither  cold  nor  hot,  I  will  spew  thee  out  of  my  mouth."  Rev. 
.3:16. 

1.  Criminality  of  religious  indifference.  2.  Its  ofifensiveness  to  God. 
3.  Its  danger. 

I157.  Whose  Sons  are  We?  —  "If  God  were  your  Father, 
ye  would  love  me."    John  8: 42. 

I.  They  only  are  true  sons  wlio  have  filial  aflfedlion  for  the  Father. 

2.  The  test  of  such  affe(5lion  is  Christ  Jesus,  "the  express  image  "  of  God. 

3.  Try  yourselves  by  this :  "  Do  you  love  Christ  Jesus  ?  "  4.  If  you  find 
no  love  for  him  in  your  heart,  you  are  not  a  son  of  God,  but  of  Satan. 


1158.  Profession  and  Confession  —  ''Then  certain  of  the 
vagabond  Jews,  exorcists,  took  upon  them  to  call  over  them 
which  had  evil  spirits  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus."    Adls  19: 13. 


I159.  A  Sad  Rei^igion  a  Fai.se  Rewgion — "And  they 
brought  up  an  evil  report  of  the  land  which  they  had  searched." 
Num.  13:32. 


ii6o.  Artificial  Religion  — ' '  Except  your  righteousness 
shall  exceed  the  righteousness  of  the  scribes  and  Pharisees,  ye 
shall  in  no  case  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. ' '    Matt.  5 :  20. 


ix6i.  Religious  Discouragements — ' '  The  soul  of  the  peo- 
ple was  much  discouraged  because  of  the  way."    Num.  21: 4. 


Il62.  The  Careless  Warned  — ' '  Tremble,  ye  women  that 
are  at  ease;  be  troubled,  ye  careless  ones."    Isa.  32: 11. 


"■"163.  Jonah  the  Backslider — "Arise,  call  upon  thy  God, 
if  so  be  that  God  will  think  upon  us,  that  we  perish  not."  Jonah 
1:6. 


1164.  Demas  the  Deserter  —  "For  Demas  hath  forsaken 
me,  having  loved  this  present  world."    II.  Tim.  4: 10. 


1165.    Lot's  Wife  —  "  Remember  Lot's  wife."    Luke  17:32. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


339 


Ii66.  Looking  Back  Fatal  —  "No  man,  having  put  his 
hand  to  the  plough,  and  looking  back,  is  fit  for  the  kingdom  of 
God."    Luke  9: 62. 


ii67.  An  Unrevived  and  Backslidden  Church  —  "Woe 
is  me !  for  I  am  as  when  the}^  have  gathered  the  summer  fruits, 
as  the  grape  gleanings  of  the  vintage:  there  is  no  cluster  to  eat: 
my  soul  desired  the  first  ripe  fruit."    Micah  7:  i. 


1x68.  A  Divided  Heart  —  "Their  heart  is  divided;  now 
shall  they  be  found  faulty."    Hosea  10:  2. 


1169.  The  Fruitless  Tree  — ' '  And  when  he  saw  a  fig  tree 
in  the  way,  he  came  to  it,  and  found  nothing  thereon,  but  leaves 
only."    Matt.  21: 19. 


1170.  Prayer  for  a  Desolated  Church — "Now,  there- 
fore, O  our  God,  hear  the  prayer  of  thy  servant,  and  his  suppli- 
cations, and  cause  thy  face  to  shine  upon  thy  sandluary  that  is 
desolate,  for  the  Lord's  sake."    Dan.  9: 17. 


1x71.  Time  to  Seek  the  Lord  —  "Sow  to  yourselves  in 
righteousness,  reap  in  mercy;  break  up  your  fallow  ground:  for 
it  is  time  to  seek  the  Lord,  till  he  come  and  rain  righteousness 
upon  you."    Hosea  10: 12. 


XX72.  A  Weeping  Sinner  — ' '  And  when  he  thought  there- 
on, he  wept."    Mark  14:  72. 


1x73.  Unconverted  Church  Members — "  They  feared  the 
Lord,  and  served  their  own  gods,  after  the  manner  of  the  nations 
whom  they  carried  away  from  thence."    II.  Kings  17:33. 


1x74,  Idolizing  the  Sacraments  —  "And  brake  in  pieces 
the  brazen  serpent  that  Moses  had  made:  for  unto  those  days  the 
children  of  Israel  did  burn  incense  to  it."    II.  Kings  18: 4. 


XX75,  The  Backslider's  Inactivity  —  "Why  do  we  sit 
still?"    Jer.  8:14.    See  context. 


340 


THE  GOSPEIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


II76,  Positive  Christians  Needed  —  For  if  the  trumpet 
give  an  uncertain  sound,  who  shall  prepare  himself  to  the  bat- 
tle?"   I.  Cor.  14:8. 


1x77.  R^^ciPE  FOR  A  Revival  —  "If  my  people,  which  are 
called  by  my  name,  shall  humble  themselves,  and  pray,  and  seek 
my  face,  and  turn  from  their  wicked  ways;  then  will  I  hear  from 
heaven,  and  will  forgive  their  sin,  and  will  heal  their  land."" 
II.  Chron.  7: 14. 


4.  CHRISTIAN  WORK. 


(l.)  CONSECRATION. 


1178.  Reasonabi^eness  oe  Consecration — "  I  beseech  yoti. 
therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God,  that  ye  present  your 
bodies  a  living  sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable,  unto  God,  which  is- 
your  reasonable  service. ' '    Rom.  12:1. 

Consecration  is  reasonable:  — 

I.  Because  we  are  already  God's  property. 

II.  Because  of  the  mercies  we  have  received  at  his  hands. 

III.  Because  of  the  charadler  of  Him  into  whose  hands  we  commit 
ourselves. 

IV.  Because  it  brings  added  power  and  blessing. 

Remarks  —  In  this  consecration  we  reach  the  climax  of  our  nature  and 
powers. 


1179.  Taking  a  Stand  to  Fight  eor  God  —  "Who  is  on 
the  Lord's  side  ?  let  him  come  unto  me."    Kx.  32:  26. 


li8o.  Preparing  for  Victory — "And  ye  shall  compass, 
the  city,  all  ye  men  of  war,  and  go  round  about  the  city  once. 
Thus  shalt  thou  do  six  days."    Joshua  6:3. 


ix8x.  *  *  Why  Stand  ye  here  Ai.i^  the  Day  Idi^e  ? ' '  — Matt. 
20: 6. 

I.  Why?  The  vineyard  is  so  spacious.  2.  Why?  The  reward  is  so  lib- 
eral. 3.  Why?  The  Master  is  so  kind.  4.  Why?  The  time  of  working  is 
so  short. — Van  Oosterzee. 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES,  341 

Ii82,  God  Demands  Human  Co-operation — "Standstill, 
and  see  the  salvation  of  the  I^ord,  whicli  he  will  show  to  you  to- 
day." Bx.  14: 13.  "Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  that  they 
^o  forward."    V.  15. 


1183.   God's  Favorite  Instruments — I.  Cor.  1:27,  28,  29. 


1184.  Fishers  op  Men — "  At  thy  word  I  will  let  down  the 
net."    Luke  5:5. 


iiSs*  Temporal  Hindrances  — ' '  Also  regard  not  your  stuff; 
for  the  good  of  all  the  land  of  Egypt  is  yours."    Gen.  45:20. 


1186.  Removing  Hindrances  to  the  Lord's  Work  — 
Jesus  said,  Take  ye  away  the  stone."  John  11:39.  See  context. 


ri87.  Gratitude  a  Worthy  Motive  for  Doing  God's 
Work  —  "Only  fear  the  Lord,  and  serve  him  in  truth  with  all 
your  heart:  for  consider  how  great  things  he  hath  done  for  you." 
I.  Sam.  12:  24. 


Ii88.  Courage  and  Strength — "Be  of  good  courage,  and 
he  shall  strengthen  your  heart,  all  ye  that  hope  in  the  Lord." 
Ps.  31:24. 

I.  Fearlessness  in  religious  life.  2,  The  strength  acquired  from  fear- 
lessness in  religion. 

Remarks — i.  Be  courageous  and  strong,  for  the  time  is  short.  2.  Be 
courageous  and  strong,  for  the  enemy  is  alert.  3.  Be  courageous  and 
strong,  for  your  Divine  leader  is  worthy. 


1189.  ZeaIv  Desirable — "But  it  is  good  to  be  zealously 
affected  always  in  a  good  thing."    Gal.  4: 18. 


1190.  JOYEuiv  Enthusiasm  a  Power  —  For  the  joy  of  the 
Lord  is  your  strength."    Neh.  8: 10. 


IIQX.  Winning  One  Soul  — ' '  And  he  must  needs  go  through 
Samaria."   John  4:4. 

For  one  soul,  Christ:  i.  Took  along  journey;  2.  Held  converse  vi'ith  a 
vile  chara<5ler;  3.  Preached  a  long  and  carefully  adapted  sermon. 


342 


the:  gospei.  worker's  treasury. 


A  PowEREui.  Shout— "Shout;,  for  the  I^ord  hath, 
given  you  the  city . "    Joshua  6: 16. 


I193.  Religious  Shirkers  —  * '  Curse  ye  Meroz,  said  the 
angel  of  the  I^ord,  curse  ye  bitterly  the  inhabitants  thereof;  be- 
cause they  came  not  to  the  help  of  the  Lord,  to  the  help  of  the 
lyord  against  the  mighty."    Judges  5:  23. 


1194.  Go  Forward  —  "Speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel,, 
that  they  go  forward."    Ex.  14: 15. 


1195.  Paying  Vows  —  "Vow,  and  pay  unto  the  Lord  your 
God."    Ps.  76:11. 


1196.  Doing  with  Our  Might  —  "Whatsoever  thy  hand 
findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might."    Kccles.  9: 10.   See  context. 


1197.  The  Shortness  oe  Time  —  "The  time  is  short."" 
I.  Cor.  7:  29. 


1198.  The  CaIvI.  to  Service — "Son,  go  work  to-day  in  my 
vineyard."    Matt.  21:28. 


II99.  A  Good  Testimonial  —  "She  hath  done  what  she 
could."    Mark  14:8. 


I200.  Criminal  Ease  —  "Woe  to  them  that  are  at  ease  iiL 
Zion."    Amos  6: 1. 


I20I.  A  Poor  Excuse  eor  Neglecting  Souls  —  "  And  as- 
thy  servant  was  busy  here  and  there,  he  was  gone."  I.  Kings 
20: 40. 


I202.  Conditions  of  Victory  — ' '  Arise,  get  thee  down  un- 
to the  host ;  for  I  have  delivered  it  into  thine  hand. ' '    Judges  7 : 9. 


1203.  Earnestness  in  Religion  —  "And  from  the  days  of 
John  the  Baptist  until  now  the  kingdom  of  heaven  suffereth  vio- 
lence, and  the  violent  take  it  by  force."    Matt.  11 : 12. 


TKXTS,  SUBJE^CTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


343 


1204.  Compromises  Dangerous — But  if  ye  will  not  drive 
out  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  from  before  you;  then  it  shall 
come  to  pass,  that  those  which  ye  let  remain  of  them  shall  be 
pricks  in  your  eyes,  and  thorns  in  your  sides,  and  shall  vex  you 
in  the  land  wherein  ye  dwell. ' '    Num.  33:55. 


1205.  A  CoMPivETE  Reugion  —  "Thou  shalt  love  the  lyord 
thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all 
thy  mind."    Matt.  22:37.    See  I^uke  10:  27. 


(2.)   SOURCES  OF  POWER. 


I206.  A  Divine  Helper  —  "And  they  went  forth,  and 
preached  everywhere,  the  Lord  working-  with  them,  and  confirm- 
ing the  word  with  signs  following."    Mark  16:  20. 


1207.  Power  with  God  —  "As  a  prince  hast  thou  power 
with  God."    Gen.  32:28. 


X2o8.  Victory  Assured  —  "And  all  this  assembly  shall 
know  that  the  Lord  saveth  not  with  sword  and  spear:  for  the  bat- 
tle is  the  Lord's,  and  he  will  give  you  into  our  hands."  I.  Sam. 
17:47- 


1209.  Influence  oe  a  Single  Christian  —  "Now  there 
was  found  in  it  a  poor  wise  man,  and  he  by  his  wisdom  delivered 
the  city."    Kccles.  9: 15. 


1210.  Christian  Courage  —  "And  Caleb  stilled  the  jpeople 
before  Moses,  and  said.  Let  us  go  up  at  once,  and  possess  it;  for 
we  are  well  able  to  overcome  it."    Num.  13:30. 


(3.)    RESPONSIBILITY  FOR  OTHERS. 


I2II.  A  Neighbor's  Duty  —  "Thou  shalt  in  any  wise  re- 
buke thy  neighbor,  and  not  suffer  sin  upon  him."    Lev.  19: 17. 


344 


THE  GOSPEI.  worker's  TREASURY. 


Responsibility  for  the  Sins  of  Others  —  "And 
he  did  evil  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  walked  in  the  way  of 
Jeroboam,  and  in  his  sin  wherewith  he  made  Israel  to  sin." 
I.  Kings  15:34. 


1213.  Our  Responsibility  for  Others  —  **And  the  Lord 
said  unto  Cain,  Where  is  Abel  thy  brother  ? ' '    Gen.  4: 9. 


1214.  Watching  for  Souls  — For  they  watch  for  your 
souls,  as  they  that  must  give  account,  that  they  may  do  it  with 
joy,  and  not  with  grief."    Heb.  13:17. 


1215.  Soul-saving  the  Christian's  Business  —  **!  am 
made  all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save  some." 
I.  Cor.  9:22. 


I2i6.   "No  Man  Cared  for  my  Soul" — Ps.  142:4. 

Introduction — Souls  may  be  saved  by  the  use  of  right  means. 

I.  The  worth  of  the  soul.  i.  The  soul  will  continue  to  improve  for- 
ever. 2.  The  righteous  will  grow  more  happy,  and  the  wicked  more 
miserable,  throughout  eternity.  3.  The  value  of  the  soul  is  proved  by  the 
price  paid  for  it. 

II.  Contrast  the  care  man  takes  for  his  soul,  and  the  souls  of  his  fellow- 
men,  and  the  care  he  takes  for  worldly  objedls.  i.  The  solicitude  mani- 
fested for  riches.  2.  Our  care  in  educating  our  children.  3.  A  great  many 
little  things  —  dress,  honor,  business.  4.  Anxiety  for  human  life.  Describe 
a  child  lost.  5.  Contrast  our  care  for  souls  and  Christ's  care.  Paul.  Primi- 
tive Christians.  Luther.  Whitefield.  EJdwards.  6.  Contrast  our  care  now 
with  what  it  once  was. 

III.  Some  few  things  which  show  that  this  care  does  not  exist,  i.  If 
you  do  not  statedly  observe  secret  prayer.  2.  If  your  soul  is  not  burdened 
with  the  souls  of  others.  3.  If  you  negledl  family  prayer.  4.  If  you  do 
not  attend  prayer-meeting. 

Remarks — The  great  responsibility  resting  on  every  Christian. 


1217.  Helpers  and  Hinderers — ''And  they  come  unto 
him,  bringing  one  sick  of  the  palsy,  which  was  borne  of  four. 
And  when  they  could  not  come  nigh  unto  him  for  the  press,  they 
uncovered  the  roof  where  he  was. ' '    Mark  2:3,4. 


12x8.  The  Salvation  of  Our  Relatives  —  "Whoknoweth 
whether  thou  art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  as  this  ? ' ' 
Esther  4: 14. 


TEJXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTI.INKS. 


345 


X2T9.  Souiv-SAviNG  IviFE^'s  HIGHEST  Knd — ''And  who 
knowetli  whether  thou  art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time 
as  this  ? "    Esther  4: 14. 


1220.  A  Souiv-SAviNG  JouRNKY  —  "And  he  must  needs  go 
through  Samaria. "    John  4:4.    See  following  verses. 


Secret  of  SuccesseuIv  Revivai,  Work — "The  sword 
of  the  Lord,  and  of  Gideon."    Judges  7:  20.    See  context. 


j;222.   Care  OE  Converts — "Feed  my  lambs."  John  21:15. 


1223.  Dangers  after  the  Close  of  a  Revival  —  "Watch 
and  pray,  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation."    Matt.  26: 41. 


(4.)  CHURCH  AT  WORK. 


1224.  A  Church  Full  of  Prophets  —  "Would  God  that 
all  the  Lord's  people  were  prophets,  and  that  the  Lord  would  put 
his  Spirit  upon  them ! ' '    Num.  11:29. 


1225.  An  Increasing  Church — "  The  children  which  thou 
shalt  have,  after  thou  hast  lost  the  other,  shall  say  again  in  thine 
ears,  The  place  is  too  strait  for  me:  give  place  to  me  that  I  may 
dwell."    Isa.  49:20.    See  v.  21. 

I.  In  the  church  there  are  decreases. 

II.  In  the  church  we  should  look  for  increase. 

III.  In  the  church  increase  often  causes  surprise. 

IV.  In  the  church  increase  should  be  prepared  for. — Spurgeon. 


I226.  Small  Things  — ' '  For  who  hath  despised  the  day  of 
small  things  ?  "    Zech.  4: 10. 


1227.  Preparing  for  a  Revival  —  "Prepare  the  way,  take 
up  the  stumbling-block  out  of  the  way  of  my  people."   Is.  57: 14. 


346 


THE  GOSPEIy  worker's  TREASURY. 


1228.  The  Revivai.  at  Hand  —  "Say  ye  to  the  daughter 
of  Zioii,  Behold,  thy  salvation  cometh."    Isa.  62:11. 


1229.  Prayer  oe  the  Church  eor  Hei^p  —  "And  Judah 
gathered  themselves  together,  to  ask  help  of  the  Lord :  even  out 
of  all  the  cities  of  Judah  they  came  to  seek  the  I^ord."  II.  Chron. 
20:4. 


1230.  Signs  of  a  True  Revivai.  —  "And  the  inhabitants 
of  one  city  shall  go  to  another,  saying,  Let  us  go  speedily  to 
pray  before  the  Lord,  and  to  seek  the  Lord  of  hosts:  I  will  go 
also."    Zech.  8: 21. 

I.  Delight  in  prayer.  2.  Harmony  and  co-operation.  3.  Zeal.  4.  Per- 
sonal dedication. 


1231.  The  Conditions  oe  Bi^essing  —  "If  my  people,  which, 
are  called  by  my  name,  shall  humble  themselves,  and  pray,  and 
seek  my  face,  and  turn  from  their  wicked  ways;  then  will  I  hear 
from  heaven,  and  will  forgive  their  sin,  and  will  heal  their  land." 
II.  Chron.  7: 14. 


1232.  Building  Up  the  Wales  of  the  Church  — ' '  And 
they  said.  Let  us  rise  up  and  build."    Neh.  2: 18. 


1233.  The  Great  Revival — "All  the  ends  of  the  earth 
shall  see  the  salvation  of  our  God."    Isa.  52: 10. 


1234.    "Why  Should  the  Work  Cease?" — Neh.  6:3. 


1235.   The  Cloud  as  a  Man's  Hand  —  I.  Kings  18:44. 

Theme — The  beginnings  of  a  work  of  grace,  i.  It  begins  in  the  hearts 
of  God's  people.  Felt  before  seen,  in  the  soul,  in  the  closet,  in  prayer,  in 
deep  convidlion.  2.  It  manifests  itself  in  a  solemn  interest  among  the  un- 
saved. Men  begin  to  think — to  hear  the  word — to  lose  their  taste  for  the 
world — to  think  on  God  and  salvation.  3.  Conversions  follow,  but  with 
feeble  experiences.  Converts  are  feeble  when  the  church  is  weak.  4.  But 
as  we  take  hold  on  God,  the  cloud  enlarges  and  gives  rain. — H.  W.  Knapp. 


1236.  Mourning  in  a  Revival — "And  the  vi(5lory  that  day 
was  turned  into  mourning  unto  all  the  people."    II.  Sam.  19:  2. 

The  church  mourns  during  revival  scenes:  i.  That  so  few  of  God's  pro- 


TEXTS,  SUBJECTS,  AND  OUTLINES. 


347 


fessed  friends  enter  adlively  into  the  work.  2.  That  so  many  sinners  are 
passed  by  and  left  in  their  sins,  even  in  the  day  of  special  merciful  visita- 
tion. 3.  That  so  many  are  convidled  who  are  not  converted ;  wounded, 
but  not  healed.  4.  That,  in  all  probability,  a  large  proportion  of  those 
who  are  not  reached  and  rescued  in  a  revival  will  finally  perish  in  their  sins ! 


(5.)  CHILDREN. 


r237.  The  Value  oe  Chii,d  Christianity  —  ''Take  heed 
that  ye  despise  not  one  of  these  little  ones."    Matt.  18: 10. 


1238.  The  Mightiness  oe  Childhood — ''And  Jesus  called 
a  little  child  unto  him,  and  set  him  in  the  midst  of  them."  Matt. 
18:2. 


X239*   Paul's  Visit  to  the  Nursery  —  Kph.  6:1-3. 


1240.  The  Training  of  Children — "Bring  them  up  in 
the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord."    Eph.  6: 4. 


1:241.  Moral  Tendencies  Marked  in  Childhood — "Even 
a  child  is  known  by  his  doings,  whether  his  work  be  pure,  and 
whether  it  be  right."    Prov.  20: 11. 


1242.  Happy  Children  —  "  All  thy  children  shall  be  taught 
of  the  Lord;  and  great  shall  be  the  peace  of  thy  children."  Isa. 
54: 13. 


1243.  Christian's  Duty  to  Children  — ' '  Feed  my  lambs. ' ' 
John  21: 15. 


1244.  Our  Duty  to  the  Children  —  "Behold,  I  and  the 
children  whom  the  Eord  hath  given  me."    Isa.  8: 18. 


S48 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


5.  CHRISTIAN  REWARDS. 


1245.  Christian  Work  and  Wages  —  "If  any  man  serve 
me,  let  him  follow  me;  and  where  I  am,  there  shall  also  my 
servant  be :  if  any  man  serve  me,  him  will  my  Father  honor. ' ' 
John  12: 26. 


1246.  A  Sure  Reward  —  "Be  ye  strong  therefore,  and  let 
not  your  hands  be  weak:  for  your  work  shall  be  rewarded." 
II.  Chron.  15:7. 

r247.  A  Grand  Inheritance  —  "To  an  inheritance  incor- 
ruptible, and  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away,  reserved  in 
heaven  for  you."    I.  Peter  1:4. 


1248.  The  Better  Country  —  "  But  now  they  desire  a  bet- 
ter country,  that  is,  a  heavenly."    Heb.  11: 16. 

I.  Better  in  outward  manifestation — golden  streets,  etc.  2.  Better  in 
its  conditions  —  no  sickness,  pain,  or  death.  3.  Better  in  its  opportunities. 
4.  Better  in  its  companionships.  5.  Better  in  its  duration.  6.  Better,  be- 
cause prepared  by  God  for  his  people. 


1249*  A  Cause  eor  Rejoicing  —  "Rather  rejoice,  because 
your  names  are  written  in  heaven."    Luke  10:  20. 


1250.  Kept  to  the  End  —  "Who  shall  also  confirm  you 
unto  the  end,  that  ye  may  be  blameless  in  the  day  of  our  I^ord 
Jesus  Christ."    I.  Cor.  1:8. 


1251.  CAivfvED  TO  A  Kingdom  — ' '  Walk  worthy  of  God,  who 
hath  called  you  unto  his  kingdom  and  glory."    I.  Thess.  2: 12. 


1252.  The  King  and  His  IvAnd  —  "Thine  eyes  shall  see 
the  King  in  his  beauty :  they  shall  behold  the  land  that  is  very 
far  off."    Isa.  33: 17.  ^ 


scripture;  readings. 


349' 


Hkavkn's  Chiei^  Joy — "And  they  shall  see  his  face." 

Rev.  22:4. 


1254.  SuFi^ERiNG  AND  Reigning  with  Christ — **If  we 
suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him."    II.  Tim.  2: 12. 


1255.    Thb  Time  op  Coronation — "When  the  chief  Shep- 
herd shall  appear,  ye  shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth 
"  not  away."    I.  Pet.  5:4. 


1256.  Robes  and  Rest  —  "  White  robes  were  given  unto 
every  one  of  them;  and  it  was  said  unto  them,  that  they  should 
rest."    Rev.  6: 11. 


SCRIPTURE  READINGS  FOR  SOCIAL  MEETINGS. 


1257,    A  Backslidden  Church.    Rev.  3: 14-22. 


1258.    Fruitless  Christians.    Matt.  21: 17-22. 


1259.  A  Church  with  Whom  God  would  not  Walk.  Kx. 
33:1-17- 


1260*   The  Evil  Results  of  Backsliding.    II.  Kings  17:6-23. 


1261*   Unworthy  Church-members  Bring  Defeat.   Josh.  7: 


1262*   A  Battle  without  God  Meets  Defeat.    Num.  14:36-45. 


1263.   God's  Judgments  upon  Frivolity.    Amos  6:  i-ii. 


1264*   Insufficient  Aggressiveness.    I.  Kings  13 : 14-19. 


350  THE  GOSPHI/  worker's  TREASURY. 

1265.    A  Good  Cliurcli,  but  I^acking  I^ove.    Rev.  2: 1-7. 


1266.  Praying  for  a  Backsliding  Cliurch.  Ex.  32:  7-14,  and 
^5-35. 


1267.    God's  Cry  to  the  Backslider.   Jer.  3: 12-25. 


I268«   A  Backsliding  Ckurcli  Seeks  Help.    Ps.  60. 


1269,  A  Backsliding  Churcli  Desiring  to  Return.  Judges 
10:6-18. 


X270.   Th.e  Backslider's  Return.    Hos.  6: 1-7,  and  14: 1-9. 


I27I*   A  Backslider's  Return.    Ps.  77. 


1272.   Humiliation  and  Confession  before  God.    Ps.  51. 


1273.    Guarding  Against  Backsliding.    Heb.  10: 19-31. 


1274,  A  Famishing  Church  Filled  with  Good  Things.  I. 
Xings  7: 1-20. 


1275,    Churches  Worthy  of  Imitation.    Rev.  3: 1-13. 


X276.   A  Church  Anxious  for  Enlargement.    Ps.  67. 


1277.  Building  up  the  Church  under  Difficulties.  Neh.  4: 
7-23. 


1278.   A  Growing  and  Aggressive  Church.    Isa.  62. 


1279.   The  Mission  of  the  Church.    Isa.  49:8-23. 


SCRIPTURE  READINGS.  361 

X28o.    God  Glorifies  His  Church.    Isa.  52. 


1:281.    The  Glory  of  the  Church.  Ps. 


1282.   The  Vidtory  of  the  Church  of  Christ.    Micah  4: 1-7. 


1283.    The  Church's  Thanksgiving.    Isa.  12. 


1284*    Rejoicing  in  God's  House.    Ps.  84. 

1285.    Preparation  for  the  Lord's  Work.    Isa.  6: 1-8. 


i;286.    The  Church  Preparing  for  a  Revival.    Isa.  60:  i-ii. 


1287.    The  Signs  of  a  Coming  Revival.    I.  Kings  18:41-46. 


1288*    Prayer  for  Revival  Answered.    Hab.  3: 1-19. 


1289.    A  Revival  Begins  in  Hiimiliation.   Joel  2: 12-32. 


1290.    A  Grand  Praise  Meeting.  PS..98. 


1291.    A  Personal  Experience.    I.  John  i :  i-io. 


1292.   Confessing  Christ  Publicly.    Luke  12: 1-12. 


1293,   A  Noble  Confession.    Matt.  16: 13-23. 


I294«    A  Happy  Experience.    Ps.  16. 


^295»   '^^^  Friend  of  God  and  His  Blessing.    Gen.  12: 1-9. 


352  THE  GOSPKIy  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 

1296.    A.  Model  Testimony  for  Christ.    Ps.  40:  i-ii. 


1297.    David  Has  a  Modern  Experience.    Ps.  34:  i-io. 


1298.    David  Tells  How  he  was  Converted.    Ps.  32. 


1299.    Moses  Relates  his  Experience.    Ex.  18: 1-12. 


1300.  The  Dark  and  Eight  Hours  of  1  Christian's  Experi- 
ence.   Ps.  .13. 


1301.    Christian  Work  Should  Edify.    I.  Cor.  14: 1-19. 


1302.    Getting-  Ready  to  Appear  before  God.   Gen.  35: 1-15. 


1303.  The  Soul's  Preparation  for  Spiritual  Kingship.  I- 
Sam.  10: 1-13. 


1304.    Preparing  for  Battle.    Eph.  6:11-18. 


1305.    Putting  off  the  Old  Man.    Eph.  4: 17-32. 


1306.    Seeking  the  Things  Which  are  Above.    Col.  3: 1-17. 


1307.    The  Christian's  Desire  for  More  of  God's  Grace.  Ps.  63^ 


1308.    Dreaming  of  God.    Gen.  28: 10-22. 


1309.    Walking  After  the  Spirit.    Rom.  8: 1-17. 


1310.    A  Sum  in  Addition.    II.  Peter  i:  i-ii. 


I3II.   Eiving  Epistles.    II.  Cor.  3: 1-18. 


scripture;  readings.  358 
1312.    Meeting  our  Obligations  to  God.    Mai.  3 : 8-18. 


1313.  Complete  Separation  from  the  World  Demanded.  Kx. 
10: 24-29. 


1314,    A  Complete  Consecration.    Rom.  12: 1-8. 


I3I5,    Tlie  Blessings  of  Obedience.    Deut.  28: 1-12. 


1316.    Hearers  and  Doers.    Matt.  7:  24-29. 


1317.   A  Call  to  Duty.    Isa.  32: 9-20. 


1318.    Christ's  Counsel  to  His  Workers.    Matt.  10:5-16. 


I3I9.  Christ's  Diredlion  Needed  in  Soul-Fishing.  I^ukes: 
i-ii. 


I320«    Doers,  and  Not  Hearers  Only.   Jas.  i :  19-27. 


I32I*    Bringing  Good  Tidings.    Isa.  40:1-11. 


1322.  The  Faith  of  Others  Accepted  in  Behalf  of  the  Sinful. 
Mark  2: 1-12. 


1323.   The  Christian's  lyament  over  the  Unsaved.   Jer.  9: 1-8. 


1324.   Interceding  for  Sinners.    Gen.  18:  23-33. 


1325.  The  Responsibilities  of  Christians  for  the  Destrudlion 
of  Sinners.    Ezek.  33 : 1-20. 


1326.  Christians  Should  Urge  Sinners  to  Hasten.  Gen.  19: 
15-26. 

23 


554  THE  GOSPEiv  worker's  treasury. 

1327.    Distradlions  to  be  Avoided.    Neh.  6: 1-16. 


1328.    Pressing  On.    Phil.  3:7-16. 


^3^9*    Exaltation  and  Humiliation.    II.  Cor.  12:1-10. 


1330.  A  Call  to  Saints  to  Praise,  and  to  Sinners  to  Pray. 
Ps.  95. 


I33r,    Christ's  Dodlrine  of  Prayer.    I,uke  11: 1-13. 


1332.   Jacob's  Successful  Prayer.    Gen.  32: 24-31. 


1333.    A  Popular  Study  of  the  Scriptures.    Neh.  8: 1-12. 


1334.   The  Power  of  the  Word  of  God.    Heb.  4: 9-16. 


I335«  "^^^  Word  of  God  Gives  Wisdom  and  Strength,  Ps. 
119:97-112. 


1336.    God's  Word  a  Comfort  in  Persecution.    Ps.  119:81-96. 


1337*   '^^^  Inevitable  Results  of  God's  Word.    Isa.  55:8-13. 


1338.    Christians  Must  Bear  with  One  Another.  Rom.  15: 1-7. 


1339.   Suffering  Unjustly.    I.  Peter  3: 12-22. 


1340.    Loving  the  Brethren.    I.  John  2:1-11. 


I34I,    A  Blessing  to  be  Diffused.    I.  John  4: 7-21. 


1342*   Diversity  in  Unity.    I.  Cor.  12: 1-13. 


SCRIPTURE  READINGS.  355 

Z343.  The  Witness  of  God.    I.  John  5: 1-13. 

1344.  Peace  with  God.    Rom.  5: 1-9. 

1345.  The  Riches  of  His  Grace.    Eph.  2: 1-22. 

1346,  In  the  Secret  Place  of  the  Most  High.    Ps.  91. 

1347,  Kept  by  the  Power  of  God.    I.  Peter  i:  1-2 1. 
X348*  The  Security  of  the  Believer.    Ps.  27. 

1349,  God  Encourages  His  People.    Isa.  41 : 10-20. 

1350.  Trusting  God.    Isa.  26:  i-ii. 

I35r,  The  Joyful  Confidence  of  God's  People.    Ps.  46. 

1352,  The  Christian's  Trust.    Ps.  11. 

T353.  The  Christian's  Source  of  Strength.    Isa.  51:9-18. 

1354.  God  lycadeth  His  People.    Num.  9:  15-23. 

1:355.  Running  the  Gospel  Race.    Heb.  12: 1-16. 

1356.  Joying  in  Temptation.    Jas.  1:1-12. 

1357,  Preparing  for  Vidtory.    Josh.  3: 1-17. 

X358.  Men  of  the  Right  Spirit  Expedl  Vidlory.  ISIum.  14: 
i-io. 


356  THE  GosPEi,  worke;r's  treasury. 

1359.    A  Song  of  Vidtory.    Kx.  15: 1-22. 


1360.    God  in  the  Midst  of  His  People.    Zepli.  3 : 14-20. 


1361.    lyonging  after  God.    Job  23 :  3-10. 


1362.    A  Noble  Thirst.    Ps.  42. 


1363.    Why  Christians  Should  I^ove  God.    Ps.  116. 


1364.    Reasons  for  Praising  God.    Ps.  107: 1-15. 


1365.    The  Greatness  of  God.    Isa.  40: 12-31. 


1366.    The  Power  of  God  Unsearchable.    Job  26: 1-14. 


1367,    The  Justice  of  God.    Ezek.  18: 19-30. 


1368.    The  Transcendenc}^  of  God's  I^ove.    Rom.  8:31-39.. 


1369.    A  Great  Forgiver.    Matt.  9:  1-13. 


1370.    The  Lord's  Appeal  to  Sinners.    Isa.  i:  2-20. 


1371,    The  Call  of  God.    Job  33: 13-30. 


1372,    A  Child  Called.    1.  Sam.  2:  i-io. 


1373.    The  Corner-stone.    I.  Peter  2:  i-io. 


1374.    The  Humiliation  and  Exaltation  of  Christ.  Phil. 


SCRIPTURE  READINGS.  357 

1375.    Christ  Heals  and  Feeds.    Matt.  15:  29-39. 


T376.    The  Kingdom  of  Heaven.    Matt.  13 :  24-48. 


^377*    "^^^  Glory  of  Christ's  Kingdom.    Isa.  35. 


1378.   The  Blessings  of  Christ's  Kingdom.    Isa.  32: 1-8. 


1379.    The  Rule  of  Christ.    Isa.  11:1-10. 


1380.  The  Holy  Spirit  Better  than  Christ's  Bodily  Presence. 
John  16:7-14. 


1381.  The  Spirit  Testifies  of  Christ.  John  14:26;  15:26;  and 
16: 13-14. 


1382.    The  Work  of  the  Holy  Ghost.    Adls  13: 1-13. 


1383.    The  Holy  City.    Rev.  21: 1-12,  21-27. 


1384.    The  City  by  the  River.    Rev.  22: 1-2 1. 


1385,  The  Characfter  of  the  Sinner  and  of  God  Contrasted. 
Ps.  36. 


1386.    The  Condition  of  the  Unsaved.    Ps.  53. 


1387.  The  Condition  of  the  Godly  and  Ungodly  Contrasted. 
Ps.  I. 


1388.  The  Present  and  Future  State  of  the  Wicked.  Job 
:2i:7-30. 


X389.    God  will  Unerringly  Find  the  Sinner.    Amos  9:  i-io. 


358  THE  GosPEi.  worker's  treasury. 

1390.    The  Birtli  of  Sin  and  the  Promise.    Gen.  3: 1-21. 


1391.  The  Convidled  Sinner's  Lament.  Ps.  102:1-13;  and 
16-22. 


1392.    Prisoners  of  Sin  Released  by  Prayer.    Acfts  12:5-17. 


1393,    The  Preaching  of  the  Cross.    I.  Cor.  i:  19-31. 


1394.    Salvation  Provided.    Gen.  6:9-22. 


1395.    The  Vision  of  the  Dry  Bones.    Ezek.  37: 1-14. 


1396.    The  Healing  of  Naaman.    II.  Kings  5: 1-14. 


1397,    The  River  of  Salvation.    Ezek.  47: 1-12. 


1398.    The  Mark  of  Salvation.    Ezek.  9. 


1399.    The  Victories  of  Salvation.    Isa.  25: 1-9. 


1400.    The  Final  Triumph.    Rev.  4. 


INDEXES. 


OP  ' 

HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


A  long  time  I  wandered  in  darkness  86 

Alas!  and  did  my  Savior  bleed?  33-38,  158,  164-181 

All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name  23-26 

All  the  way  the  Savior  leads  me  39-41,  486,  491,  492 

Almost  persuaded,  now  to  believe  83,  84,  322-341 

Am  I  a  soldier  of  the  cross?  554,  564,  565,  567,  570 

Amazing  grace!  how  sweet  the  sound  188 

Are  you  ready?  78,  251-260 

Are  you  ready  for  the  Bridegroom?  89,  132-136 

Are  you  washed  in  the  blood?    98,  182-187 

Arise,  my  soul,  arise    58,  164-178 

Awake,  my  soul,  to  joyful  lays  60,  399-402 

Blessed  be  the  tie  that  binds  44,  45,  450 

Come,  every  soul  by  sin  oppressed  93,  391-395 

Come,  Holy  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove!  ,..189,  192,  193 

Come,  thou  fount  of  every  blessing  64,  395,  396 

Come  to  Jesus  just  now  ■3'23-2)?)7 

Come  to  the  cross  35,  37,  96,  147,  164,  174 

Come  to  the  Savior,  make  no  delay  342,  344,  351 

Come,  we  that  love  the  L,ord  703 

Come,  ye  sinners,  poor  and  needy  236 

Depth  of  mercy,  can  there  be?  55,  138,  144,  145,  154,  160,  173 

Did  Christ  o'er  sinners  weep?  577-585 

Do  you  wonder  that  I  love  him?  63,  436,  443 

Down  at  the  cross  where  my  Savior  died  95,  182-187 

From  every  stormy  wind  that  blows  500,  501,  503,  507 

Give  me  the  wings  of  faith  to  rise  712 

God  is  coming  ,  369,  470,  471 

Going  home  at  last  ..   706 

Hallelujah,  'tis  done  182-187 

361 


362 


THE  GOSPKIv  worker's  TREASURY. 


Happy  tidings  ■•-Z^'Z 

He  leadeth  me!  O  blessed  thought !  39-41,  311,  312,  486,  491 

Holy  Spirit,  faithful  guide  ,  190,  191,  195 

How  can  I  but  love  him?  399^  401,  402 

How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds  92,  402,  436 

I  am  coming  to  the  cross  554,  559-561 

I  am  praying  for  you  514,  515,  525,  527-533,  673,  674- 

I  am  so  glad  that  our  Father  in  heaven  50-52,  141-148,  173,  174 

I  am  thine,  O  Lord,  I  have  heard  thy  voice   554,  557,  560,  561 

I  gave  my  life  for  thee    96,  97,  147,  158,  164-166,  169-175,  177 

I  have  entered  the  valley  of  blessing  so  sweet  446,  447 

I  hear  Thy  welcome  voice  360,  397 

I  heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  say  342,  349,  355 

I  love  to  tell  the  story  577,  578,  580- 

I  need  Thee  every  hour  122 

I  saw  a  way-worn  traveler  713 

I  will  sing  of  my  Redeemer  173-178,  182-187 

I  will  sing  you  a  song  of  that  beautiful  land  711 

I'm  glad  salvation's  free!  85,  145,  343 

I'm  going  home  710 

In  the  Christian's  home  in  glory  703 

Is  my  name  written  there?  710 

Is  not  this  the  land  of  Beulah?  446,  447 

It  is  well  with  my  soul  392,  393,  489 

I've  been  redeemed  393,  396 

I've  reached  the  land  of  corn  and  wine  109,  447 

Jesus  is  mighty  to  save   161 

Jesus  is  mine  77 

Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul    7-17 

Jesus  of  Nazareth  passeth  by  76 

Jesus  paid  it  all  94,  167 

Joy  cometh  in  the  morning  149-151 

Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea  61,  62,  388,  389 

lyCt  the  lower  lights  be  burning  80,  81,  407-411,  429-435 

More  love  to  Thee,  O  Christ  92,  141,  575,  579 

Must  Jesus  bear  the  cross  alone?  559-561 

My  faith  looks  up  to  Thee  483,  488,  499 

My  hope  is  built  on  nothing  less   19,  185,  186 

My  latest  sun  is  sinking  fast    708 

My  soul,  be  on  thy  guard   ..426-428,  564,  566 

Near  the  cross  164,  165 

Nearer,  my  God,  to  thee  62 

No  room  in  heaven  99,  286-289,  328-332 

Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts  65 

Nothing  but  leaves  45^-459 

Nothing  but  the  blood  of  Jesus  100,  182-187 

Now  just  a  word  for  Jesus  439>  442,  557 

O,  for  a  faith  that  will  not  shrink  i37-i39>  482-491,  493 

O,  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing  103,  398-402 


INDEX  OE  HYMN  ANECDOTES. 


36S 


O  happy  day,  that  fixed  my  choice  392-394,  447 

O,  how  I  love  Jesus  ,  92,  436 

O,  prodigal,  don't  stay  away  93 

O,  what  a  Savior,  that  he  died  for  me  164,  165,  169,  173,  393 

Oh,  sing  of  His  mighty  love  141-143,  161 

Oh,  think  of  the  home  over  there  706 

Oh,  where  are  the  reapers  that  garner  in  580,  582,  583 

On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand  554,  570 

Pardon  for  all  102 

Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  1-6,  398,  399 

Precious  promise  God  hath  given  127,  492 

Rescue  the  perishing  554,  557,  580 

Ring  the  bells  of  heaven  ,.87 

Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me  18-22,  164-188 

Safe  in  the  arms  of  Jesus  48,  49,  448 

Saved  by  faith  391,  394 

Savior,  more  than  life  to  me  ".  141,  444 

Savior,  thy  dying  love  399,  560,  561 

Scatter  seeds  of  kindness    449,  678 

Shall  we  gather  at  the  river?  71,  72 

Sitting  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  91,  444 

Stand  up,  stand  up  for  Jesus  88,  436-442,  564-571,  574 

Sweet  hour  of  prayer!  500,  501,  503,  507 

Take  me  as  I  am  62 

Take  my  heart,  dear  Jesus  366,  558,  559 

Take  my  life  and  let  it  be  57,  554-557,  560,  561 

Tell  it  to  Jesus  loi,  510,  511 

Tell  me  the  old,  old  story  190,  191,  193 

That  will  be  heaven  for  me  715 

The  child  of  a  King  67-69 

The  cleansing  wave   ....  95,  423,  425 

The  cross!  the  cross!  the  blood-stained  cross!  35,  37,  165,  169,  438 

The  door  is  shut!  66,  197,  341 

The  gospel  bells  are  ringing   34;^ 

The  Great  Physician  now  is  here  401 

The  judgment  day  is  coming  .53,  54,  132-135 

The  light  of  the  world  is  Jesus  198 

The  Lily  of  the  Valley  155,  156,  158,  159 

The  Lord  will  provide  137-139 

The  ninety  and  nine.  105 

The  prodigal  child  93,  529 

There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood  27-32 

There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight  711 

There'll  be  no  sorrow  there   70 

There's  a  fullness  in  God's  mercy  141-148 

There's  a  land  that  is  fairer  than  day  711 

There's  a  light  in  the  valley  698 

Thou  thinkest,  Lord,  of  me!  74,  75,  137-139 

To  the  work!  to  the  work!  496,  498,  499,  561,  576,  580,  583 

Triumph  by  and  by  727,  729 

Trusting  in  the  promise  56,  391,  482-489 


364 


THE  GOSPEL  WORKER'S  TREASURY. 


Trusting  Jesus,  that  is  all    90,  386,  3S9,  391,  394,  482-489 

We  praise  thee,  O  God  38,  398-402 

We  shall  meet  beyond  the  river  700 

W^eeping  will  not  save  me     104,  386-397 

We'll  work  till  Jesus  comes  562,  563,  583,  597 

What  a  friend  we  have  in  Jesus  73,  510,  541 

What  a  gathering  that  will  be    714 

What  a  wonderful  Savior  35-37,  96,  97,  159 

What  shall  the  harvest  be  ?  267-290 

When  he  cometh  650,653-655 

When  I  can  read  my  title  clear  42,  43 

When  I  survey  the  wondrous  cross  35-37,  46,  47 

When  Jesus  comes  to  reward  his  servants  133 

When  the  battle's  over  713 

When  the  door  is  shut  66,  197,  341 

When  the  King  comes  in  53,  54,  132-136,  288 

Where  is  my  boy  to-night  ?  79,  93,  528-533 

Whiter  than  snow  423,  424 

Whosoever  will  .'  102,  343 

Why  do  you  wait,  dear  brother?  :  308,  315 

Why  not  be  saved  to-night?  197,  321,  324,  328 

Wonderful  grace  142,  143,  146,  154 

Wonderful  love  of  Jesus  59,  141-143,  154,  159,  173,  174 

Wonderful  words  of  life  198,  206,  207,  209 

Work,  for  the  night  is  coming    563,  583 

Ye  must  be  born  again  378-381 

Yield  not  to  temptation  426-428 


OF 

REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


No. 

A  Baked  Bible  20& 

A  Beggar  Saved  by  a  Song  619 

A  Blessed  Subscription  348 

A  Boy's  Rebuke    361 

A  Brave  Confession  440 

A  Broken  Crucifix  443 

A  Cause  of  Skepticism  639 

A  Chastising  I,ove  151 

A  Cheap  Soul  ■■••336 

A  Child  as  a  Revivalist  666 

A  Child's  Death-bed  701 

A  Child's  Rebuke  534 

A  Child's  Unanswered  Prayer  540 

A  Christian  Girl's  Revenge  454 

A  Confession  243 

A  Cure  for  Doubts  499 

A  Dead  Mother's  Prayers  532 

A  Death-bed  of  Horror  277 

A  Dispute  with  Jesus  Christ.  297 

A  Doer  of  the  Word  403 

A  False  God  231 

A  False  Hope  384. 

A  Father  Dying  for  His  Son  169 

A  Free  Gospel  ,  343 

A  General  Desire  246 

A  Good  Answer  458 

A  Good  Illustration  189 

A  Good  Motto  =   260 

A  Good  Sermon  to  a  Small  Audience  610 

A  Good  Stimulant  209 

A  Great  Mistake    641 

A  Heathen's  Idea  of  Christianity  414- 

A  Hindoo  Woman's  Preference  441 

A  Husband's  Pardon  .'  623 

A  Just,  yet  Merciful  Judge  167 

A  Kentucky  Feud  ,  119 

365 


366 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


A  Legend  of  St.  Amulph  

A  Lesson  for  Weak  Christians  ^82 

A  Light  That  Cannot  be  Hid  !...4o8 

A  Little  Boy's  Sermon  663 

A  Little  Girl  Praying  for  Her  Father  673 

A  Little  Quaker  Boy's  Prayer  

A  Living  Epistle  411 

A  Merciful  Providence  138 

A  Mereh-  Moral  Life  225 

A  Message  Written  in  Blood  139 

A  Mighty  Good  Baptist  725 


A  Million  Dead  Men.. 


•253 


A  Miraculous  Lantern  215 

A  Mistake    313 


A  Natural  Inference, . 


300 


A  Xeglecled  Opportunit}-  633 

A  Nurse  s  Testimony....'  279 

A  Pastor's  Humiliation    631 

A  Pauper's  Praise  400 

A  Plunge  from  Darkness  into  Glory  709 

A  Prayer-meeting  of  One  516 


A  Praver  not  Answered.. 


-539 


A  Praying  Slave  626 

A  Queer  Conversion  382 

A  Rebellious  Conviction  317 

A  Rebellious  Prayer  548 

A  Returning  Prodigal  529 

A  Revival  Accounted  For  524 

A  Revival  Assured  522 

A  Royal  Dying-bed  282 

A  Royal  Pageant  729 

A  Rusty  Sword  212 

A  Sailor's  Reproof  ...611 

A  Savior  and  Keeper  159 

A  Savior  from  Death  176 

A  Savor  of  Death  unto  Death  321 

A  Second  Salvation  42S 

A  Selfish  Prayer  551 

A  Shocking  Prayer  553 

A  Skeptic's  Envy  ;  109 

A  Small  Congregation  605 

A  Soldier's  Conversion  370 

A  Sorrj-  Love    459 

A  Star  in  Gladstone's  Crown  618 

A  Strange  Messenger  342 

A  Stumbling-block  Removed    320 

A  Substitute  172 

A  Swearer  Reproved  552 

A  Telegram  from  Heaven  183 

A  Tender-hearted  Sinner  340 

A  Thunderbolt  =  344 

A  Triple  Success  518 

A  Troubled  Conscience  270 

A  Troublesome  Compass  216 


title:  index  of  revivai.  anecdotes.  367 

A  True  Hero  17.5 

A  Trusty  Courier's  Advice  357 

A  Voice  from  the  Dead  353 

A  Wise  Devil  322 

A  Word  in  Season  616 

A  Word  of  Power   155 

A  Wrong-  Conclusion  446 

A  Wrong  Righteousness  467 

A  Zealous  Convert  596 

Aaron  Burr  636 

Abiding  in  Christ  444 

According  to  Your  Faith  497 

Affli<5lion  a  Tender  Mercy  149 

Afraid  of  Business  Friends  329 

Afraid  to  Sleep  Alone  275 

After  Many  Days  608 

Allegiance  223 

Alone  with  God  272 

Always  Ready  564 

An  Advantageous  Error  107 

An  Awning  over  the  Door  131 

An  Fasy  Job  356 

An  Engineer's  Story  692 

An  Enthusiast  597 

An  Error  Often  Committed  by  Christians  723 

An  Evil  Conscience  274 

An  Idol  in  the  Way  375 

An  Important  Item  Forgotten  185 

An  Incident  from  Gough  688 

An  Inconsistent  Professor  465 

An  Infidel  Answered  iii 

An  Infidel  Converted  114 

An  Infidel  Converted  526 

An  Infidel  Reproved  113 

An  Infidel's  Difficulties  362 

An  Inquirer's  Dream  389 

An  Old  Legend  728 

An  Old  Woman's  Railway  Signal  561 

An  Unavailing  Regret  642 

An  Unexpedled  Reward  ,  697 

An  Unpaid  Vow    347 

An  Unsuspedled  Treasure  207 

An  Unusual  Noise  546 

An  Unwise  but  Frequent  Choice  292 

And  I  Begs  no  Pardons  296 

And  Then?  291 

Are  You  a  Communicant?  457 

Ashamed  of  Christ    438 

Ask  Great  Things  of  God  503 

Averaging  Matters  with  the  I,ord  226 

Balky  Christians  574 

Baptism  719 

:Be  Thou  Faithful  unto  Death  413 


THE  GOSPKIy  WORKE:r'S  TRE:ASURY. 


Beg-inning  in  the  Middle  


Belief  and  Self-will, 


.227 


Belie\  ing  his  Master's  Word  

Beside  All  Waters   615 

Better  be  Sure  than  Sorry  460 


Better  I^ose  our  House. . 


293 


Better  than  lyOgic  5gi 


Bible  First 


..205 


Bible  Proof  200 

Big  Enough  to  Quit  Saying  my  Prayers  544 

Brilliant  Preaching  .;"-595 

Calling  the  Roll  in  Heaven  710 

Can't  Find  the  Brake  281 

Can't  Get  the  Gospel  In  681 

Carlyle's  Rebuke  437 

Cast  Out  the  Devil  First  645 

Changing  Gods  280 

Children  Putting  Parents  to  Shame  664 

Christ  and  His  I^ambs  655 

Christian  Courage  Rewarded  508 

Christians'  Duty  to  Sinners  581 

Clane  Inside..'.  423 

Closing  a  Revival  341 

Coals  of  Fire  f..  453 

Complete  vSelf-surrender  366 

Contentment  of  the  Unconverted...  233 

Controversy    ,  '"449 

Conversion  Through  a  Dream  136 

Could  a  Myth  do  That?  153 

Cut  the  Fyes  Out  128 

Danger  of  Delay    328 

Danger  of  Great  Riches  245 

Danger  of  Procrastination  334 

De  Go-back  Corner  479 

De  Grass  Grow  on  Your  Path  547 

De  Old  Feller's  Comin'    271 

Death  or  Deep  Water  470 

Death-bed  Repentance  285 

Debating  Plans  instead  of  Working-  644 

Decide  Now  325 

Defying  God  125 

Desirable  Eccentricity  572^ 

Didn't  Want  to  be  Reached  232 

Died  for  the  People  166 

Distracflions  Avoided  352 

Does  This  Railroad  I,ead  to  Heaven  ?  680 

Doing  and  Trusting    496 

Doing  Duty  Brings  Convicftion  364 

Drifting  327 

Dying  Words. ..    699 

Early  Conversions  651 

Entered  Heaven  with  Prayer  707 


TITI.E  inde;x  of  rkvivai.  ani$cdote:s.  3C9' 

Fail  for  Christ    557 

Faith  Brings  Peace    3^4 


Faith  in  his  Father.. 


•494 


Faithful  Unto  Death  702 

Fanaticism  of  Sin  31^ 

Father,  They  Crucified  Him  165 

Fighting  in  any  Position  568 

Following  your  Guide  '.  4^1 

For  Charlie's  Sake   502 

Forgiveness    146 

Forgiving  an  Enemy  455 

From  the  Poor-house  to  Heaven    708 

Fruits  of  the  Gospel  415 

Garfield's  Conversion  137 

General  Jackson  Silencing  a  Scoffer  298 

Get  in  Somewhere    .717 

Get  the  Blesser  385 

Give  Me  Back  My  Husband  693 

Give  Your  Heart  to  God  Here  351 

God  Claims  the  Whole  Heart   369 

God  Helps  Those  Who  Help  Themselves....  495 

God  is  Nowhere  126 

God  is  With  Us  123 

God  Keeps  Hold  of  the  Other  Hand  486 

God  Says  Peace  392 

God's  Answer  to  Man's  Defiance  124 

God's  Kye  is  Upon  Us  127 

God's  Readiness  to  Forgive  144 

Going  on  Her  Way  Rejoicing  396 

Going  Respe(5lably  to  Hell    306 

Going  to  Receive  Mercy  145 

Good  Advice  391 

Good  Fruits  from  a  Bad  Book  210 

Good-bye,  Boys  376 

Good-bye,  God  543 

Gospel-hardened  339 

Grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  194 

Handed  it  All  Up  to  God  694 

Hard  on  IngersoU   ...108 

Hard  Pulling  for  the  Pastor  722 

Harpoons  on  Board  594 

He  Could  not  Pray  .....263 

He  Didn't  Get  Home  397 

He  Gave  his  Son    147 

He  Got  the  Smoke  in  his  Fyes  476 

He  Had  Burnt  It  217 

He  Holler'd  ''Amen"  628 

He  I,eft  it  All  257 

He  Saved  Them  All  657 

He  Sticks  to  it  So  228 

He  was  Asleep  309 

He  was  too  Sure  478 

He  was  Well  Drilled  507 


i 


S70 


th:^  gospel  worker's  treasury. 


He  Who  is  Love    i^r 

Heine  and  the  Venus  of  Milo  

Held  it  the  Wrong  Way  ,  204 

Her  Course  Must  be  Changed    37^ 

Here's  a  Church  720 

Heroic  Humaneness  181 

Heroic  Self-denial  420 

Hiding  behind  Christ  556 

His  Certificate  of  Regeneration  383 

His  I,ife  Does  Not  Pray  505 

His  lyife  is  Right    433 

His  Own  Pilot  3i( 


How  Chara(5ler  Preaches. . 


..429 

How  Far  is  it  to  Hell?  301 

How  he  lyived  417 

How  to  Move  the  Wheels  562 

I  Answer,  "Coming,"  in  my  Sleep  308 

I  Begged  500 

I  Can't  Pray  196 

I  Can't  Stand  That  197 

I  Can't  Stop  to  Pray  535 

I  Don't  Care    163 

I  Don't  Want  to  be  Rankled  Up  472 

I  Feel  it  Pull  4821 

I  Have  no  Feeling    356 

I  Have  Seen  Jesus  425 

I  Kindle  Quick  57c 

I  Know  Where  he  is  Going  703 

I  Love  Jesus — Do  You?    436 

I  May  be  Dead  583 

I  Must  Leave  Mine  256 

I  See  the  Sun  198 

I  Shall  Love  You  Still  450 

I  Want  to  Pray  to  Jesus  First  510 

I  Will  Go  for  Christ  554 

I  Will  Shut  my  Eyes  662 

If  I  Could  only  See  my  Mother  278 

If  I  had  to  Swim  577 

If  it  Were  my  Son  584 

If  the  Lord  was  Driving  492 

I'll  Send  a  Hand  647 

I'll  Try  That  509 

Important  Business  378 

In  a  Hurry  to  be  a  Christian  448 

In  Season,  Out  of  Season  630 

Inconsistencies  of  Christians  469 

Indifferent  Warning  593 

Infidels  Going  Astray  112 

Infinite  Contempt  iic 

Insensibility  to  Beauty  23c, 

Intercession  of  a  Child  687 

Is  God  Dead?  542 

Is  our  Wheat  Good?  410 


titi^e;  index  of  rejvivai.  anecdotes. 


371 


Is  This  Heaven?  711 

It  is  Pleasant  Floating  323 

It  Makes  me  Cry  164 

It  Must  be  His  Will  549 

It  Never  Took  718 

Jessie  Finding  Jesus  679 

Jesus  must  I,ove  to  Come  Here  ,  672 

Jesus  Stronger  than  Satan    118 

Jesus  Wants  'um   650 

Jesus  Went  with  Her    698 

John,  Are  You  Dead?  474 

Judgment  Scenes  Prefigured  133 

Juggling  with  a  Soul  289 

Just  as  the  Captain  Says.....  569 

Just  I^ike  Him  154 

Just  Outside  the  Door  331 

Justice  Applauded  134 

Xeep  me  own  Cow  211 

Keeping  Converts  Still  604 

Kind  to  Man,  Unkind  to  God  354 

Knew  When  to  Stop  335 

Large  Light  142 

Let's  Drink  to  Your  Better  Life  684 

Light  from  Above  201 

Little  Piety  ,  „  430 

Long  on  the  Way  648 

Longing  for  Discharge  •,  573 

Looking  to  Jesus  402 

Lord,  Keep  Me  ,  682 

Losing  One's  Place  in  the  Kingdom  649 

Lost,  and  so  Near  Home  331 

Lost  Prayers    504 

Lost  Without  a  Guide  311 

Love  Never  Retreats  .567 

Luther  Taught  by  his  Wife  120 

Mamma,  are  You  a  Christian  ?  262 

JMeeting  at  the  Judgment  132 

Mighty  to  Save  161 

Minding  God's  Business  696 

Mockery  Short-lived  477 

Mocking  God  237 

Mohammed  Did  Not  Love  Little  Girls  652 

More  Earnestness  Needed  598 

Mountain-top  Experience  600 

Mourner's  Bench  too  Crowded  330 

Much  Like  Testifying  in  Public  442 

Must  Give  Before  Praying  537 

Must  Have  it  All  371 

My  Brother  ....726 

My  Faith  has  Risen  498 

My  Father  Knows  493 

My  Heart  Talked  501 

My  Mother's  been  Praying  530 


6iZ  THE  GOSPEIv  WORKER  S  TREASURY. 

My  Seams  will  never  Rip  Again  ^3^^ 

Narrow  Church  Spirit  724. 

Nearly  Home  706 

Negle(5ling  the  Star   162 

No  Happy  Old  Men  44jr 

No  Leisure  to  lyook  up  to  Heaven  545 


No  More  Pain.. 


••704- 


No  Retreat  565 

No  Right  in  Me  22a 

No  Shadow  of  Himself.  555 

No  Sleeping  Partners  Wanted  367 

No  Terms  with  God  o  372 

No  Unconditional  Surrender  365 

No  Worse  than  His  Fellows  247 

Nominal  Soldiers  ;  575 

Not  an  Unusual  Talent   646- 

Not  Comfortable  Yet   24a 

Now  is  the  Accepted  Time   349 

Obeying  the  Spirit  190. 

Occupied  with  Jesus  715 

Occupy  till  I  Come  563^ 

Odd  Job  Christian   576. 

Oh,  That  I  Had  a  Bigger  Boat  578- 

Oh,  That  I  Knew  261 

On  Different  Tracks    412- 

On  God's  Errand  513 

On  the  Back-track....  481 

On  the  Brink  259- 

On  the  Lord's  Side    122 

One  Conversion  Leads  to  Many  607 

One  Convert  Wins  Another  612 

One  Idol  Retained  -•374- 

One  Sad  Negleft  634 

One  Thing  God  Cannot  See  187 

Only  a  Question  of  Time  254. 

Only  One  Conversion  606- 

Our  Wounded  Captain  ••57^ 

Out  of  His  Place  ...54I 

Out  of  the  Bible  213 

Out  of  the  Bible  into  the  Newspaper  214 

Out-done  by  a  Boy  661 

Painting  for  Eternity  587 

Papa,  I  Can't  Stay  There  without  You  665 

Parental  Negle(5l  637 

Pay  Like  a  Sinner.....  456 

Philip,  Thou  Art  Mortal  251 

Pillows  of  Peace  484 

Plays  Like  a  Christian   659. 

Pleasing  God  405 

Polished  Clear  Through  424 

Poor  Johnny's  Prayer  676 

Power  of  a  Mother's  Prayer  528 

Practicing  More  than  he  Preaches..  ....416 


titIve;  inde:x  oi^  revival  ANJ:CDO'rES. 


373 


Prayer  and  Work  536 

Prayer  for  Young  People  Answered  515 

Prayers  that  Wake  up  the  Baby  506 

Praying  Children  674 

Praying  for  his  Grandfather  -•••675 

Praying  for  Wood  ,  511 

Praying  to  Stop  the  Wind  527 

President  lyincoln's  Man.  ,  157 

Profitless  Preaching  466 

Punishment  Sometimes  Delaj^ed  ,  267 

Reconciliation  451 

Rejecfling  the  Guide  312 

Remember  to  Give  Thanks  398 

Repent  and  Reform   179 

R.esisting  Unto  Blood   427 

Results  of  Disobedience  716 

Revenge  452 

Revival  Due  to  Prayer  520 

Revival  the  Result  of  Prayer  521 

Risking  his  I^ife  to  Save  178 

Royal  Intercession  160 

Run  for  the  Shore  '.  387 

Sammy's  Share  346 

Saved  by  a  Fly  •••345 

Saved  by  his  Death  168 

Saved  from  Death  621 

Saved  from  Suicide  by  a  Card  ,.620 

Saving  the  Soul  588 

Science  and  the  Bible  203 

Secure  Under  the  Token  184 

Seeing  the  Gospel  407 

Seeming  Vain  I^abor  609 

Seemingly  Unanswered  Prayer  538 

Self-Examination    471 

Self-Sacrifice  174 

Self-Sacrifice  Brings  Power  558 

Self-Sacrificing  Service.o  ,  559 

Selfish  Prayers   550 

Servants  of  Christ    399 

Seven  Years  without  Jesus  236 

Shall  I  Sue  for  Mercy?  316 

Shall  we  See  Good,  and  Not  Evil  ?  485 

Shallow  Desires  599 

She  Died  for  Him  173 

She  Took  the  Children  654 

Show  me  the  Dodlor  401 

Simplicity  of  Faith   489 

Sinners  Who  Speak  Well  of  Christ  234 

So  Folks  Won't  Stumble  over  Me  435 

So  Near  to  the  Kingdom  318 

Sold  the  Bible  for  Drink  218 

Somebody  Has  Got  to  L,et  the  People  Know    ,  580 

Somebody  Might  Have  Slipped  678 


374 


the;  gospe:l  worker' vS  treasury. 


Something  to  Make  Right.,.  .  275: 

Spiritual  Blindness  

Staking  His  Uttle  Girl  .'.".'.'26s 

Stick  to  It  377 

Straining  at  a  Gnat  242 

Sudden  Death  255. 

Suffering  for  His  Son  171 

Sufficient  Responsibility  586- 

Take  Another  •.  601 

Take  Hold  and  L,ift  ,.  602 

Take  the  Trouble  to  Pray  .'.'."514 

Talking  about  Brass  640 

Terror  Changed  to  Gladness  305 

That  Feller  Down  There  230- 

That  will  do  to  lyight  my  Pipe  219, 

The  Arab's  Proof  loS- 

The  Arm  of  Richard  117- 

The  Arrow  Hit  Home  617 

The  Baboushka. . 


 324 

The  Best  Book  of  Evidences   ...202 

The  Best  Christian  in  the  House  653 

The  Blood  182 

The  Body  of  My  Own  Father  632 

The  Bottom  of  the  Barrel  487 

The  Cause  of  Their  Parting  235 

The  Clam-shell  Man  381 

The  Conducftor's  Story  406- 

The  Constellations  in  Their  Places  121 

The  Cruel  War  was  Over  713. 

The  Danger  of  Animal  Excitement  475. 

The  Danger  of  Educated  People  249. 

The  Death  of  the  Righteous  700- 

The  Deceitful  Heart  222- 

The  Devil  will  not  Neglecfl  658 

The  Divine  Seal  589 

The  Dodlor's  Mistake  638 

The  Drunkard's  Eternity  685 

The  Duty  Done  191 

The  Eloquent  Wound  ..170- 

The  End  is  Harder  Still  305 

The  End  of  His  Religion  660- 

The  Faithful  Arab  180 

The  Far-reaching  Influence  of  a  Revival  613, 

The  Force  of  Example  434 

The  Fowls  of  the  Air  Devoured  It  338 

The  Furies  of  Remorse  273 

The  Gambler  and  His  Child  67a 

The  God  Must  Have  the  Best  560 

The  Gospel  I,anguage   730- 

The  Great  Influence  of  a  Consistent  Christian  431 

The  Great  Unseen  Arm  116 

The  Greater  Fool  290 

The  Greatest  Street-preacher  252- 

The  Hat  and  the  Head  295 


title;  index  oii'  revivai.  anecdotes. 


375 


The  Hell  of  a  Guilty  Conscience  ^.  276 

The  Iceberg  314 

The  Indian's  Explanation   368 

The  Infidel  I^awyer's  Child  669 

The  Infidel's  Ideal  Man  266 

The  Iron  Egg    0.206 

The  Joy  of  Home-coming  712 

The  L,ast  Chance  to  Confess  Christ...   439 

The  I,ast  of  Eleven  Sons   531 

The  Last  of  Thirty  Thousand  Dollars  691 

The  Lazy  Minister  Dies  First  603 

The  Lord's  Treatment  of  Sinners  386 

The  Lost  Arab  250 

The  Lost  Hammer   224 

The  Match-boy    677 

The  Minister's  Business    592 

The  Mistake  of  Maclan  315 

The  Mistrust  of  Sin  241 

The  Motive  in  False  Sanctity  244 

The  Mystery  of  God's  Love  143 

The  Neighbor's  "Weeds  264 

The  One  Thing  Needful  380 

The  Paralyzed  Tongue  195 

The  Peace  of  God  283 

The  Plank  of  Free  Grace  188 

The  Power  of  a  Look  629 

The  Power  of  Faith  517 

The  Power  of  Sympathy  627 

The  Power  of  the  Invisible  490 

The  Power  of  the  Spirit    192 

The  Prayers  of  a  Dead  Mother....   533 

The  Price  of  My  Soul  284 

The  Proofs  at  Home  689 

The  Remembered  Hymn  445 

The  Rumseller's  Son  686 

The  Secret  was  Out    523 

The  Sleep  of  Sin   307 

The  Spirit  and  the  Infidel.  ...o  193 

The  Straight  Road  to  Heaven  299 

The  Thirsty  Invited  to  Drink    390 

The  Value  of  One  Tradl  1.40 

The  Very  Dust  a  Witness... »  130 

The  Wages  of  Sin  is  Death  268 

The  Watchword  :  186 

The  Way  to  the  Pit  =  302 

The  Welcome  Home  714 

The  Whole  World  and  a  Human  Soul  294 

The  Widow's  Lamp   625 

The  Work  of  a  Penny    671 

The  Work  of  an  Invalid  622 

The  Wrath  of  God  269 

The  Wrong  Foot  Forward  221 

The  Wrong  Sinner  229 

The  Young  Officer    656 


I 


376  THE  GosPKi<  worker's  treasury. 

Then  I've  Got  It  393 

There  was  No  Next  Time   635 

They  Come  Clear  Out,  360 


This  is  Hell  to  Me.. 


..304 


Thou  God  Seest  Me  ,  129 

Thoughts  of  Eternity  258 

Three  Religions  Contrasted  156 

Through  a  Hole  in  the  Wall  624 

Till  We  Get  a  Better  199 

To  Fight  and  Not  to  Run  566 

To  Him  that  Worketh  Not  388 

To  Kiss  His  Feet  148 

Too  Late  for  the  T^ife-boat  326 

Too  Much  God  and  No  Flour  418 

Too  Near  the  Place  Where  I  Got  In  480 

Too  Sick  to  Pray  or  Repent  333 

Treat  Him  Coolly  „..426 

Try  It  on  Me  512 

Try  the  Little  Keys  663 

Turn  Your  Face  to  the  Light  483 

Twenty  Years  of  Prayer  519 

Two  Miners  ,177 

Two  Words    421 

Under  my  Aunt's  PraAicing  432 

United  Prayer  525 

Unseen  Danger  152 

Waiting  God's  Time  =  350 

Wandering  from  the  Subjedl  590 

Warnings  Negledted  337 

Wearing  Another's  Chains  158 

What  a  Child  Can  Do  667 

What  Could  he  Do  in  Heaven  303 

What  Father  Takes  685 

What  Have  You  Done?  643 

What  Have  You  Got  up  Yonder?  705 

What  Hinders?  727 

What  Others  Don't  Do    468 

What  Rum  will  Do  695 

What  Will  You  Say,  Sir?  288 

When  to  Stop  Sinning  358 

Where  Shall  I  Alight?  287 

Where  Will  You  Be?  286 

Whom  to  Bring  First  355 

Why  a  Pittsburg  Man  Went  out  of  the  Liquor  Business  690 

Why  God  Chastises  150 

Why  He  did  not  See  Them  240 

Will  Father  be  a  Goat  Then  ?  135 

Without  a  Church  721 

Without  Asking  Questions  404 

Working  Without  Encouragement  570 

Worth  Saving  614 

You  and  Me  473 

Your  Brother  is  Down  There  585 


OF 

REVIVAL  ANECDOTES. 


No. 

Amusements  for  Christians   460 

Atonement  (See  Christ,  Atonement  of) 

Attributes  of  God  116-152 

Backsliding  478-48 1 

Results  of.  481  (See  542-547,  55o) 

Baptism  718,  719 

Bible  (See  God's  Word) 

Blessing  a  Preparation  for  Work  600 

Children  650-680  (See  i,  11,  19,  26,  32,  36,  39,  48,  49,  50,  52,  62,  69,  77,  96, 

 loi,  118,  126,  131,  164,  165,  187,  236,  262) 

as  Christians  650-656 

Christians  at  Play  ,  659,  660 

Kfficient  Workers  663-672  (See  126,  135,  165,  237,  687) 

Faith  of  679,  680  (See  19,  39,  118,  187,  486,  487,  492,  655) 

Heroes  661,  662,  677,  678  (See  11,  36,  62,  96,  237) 

Parents'  Care  for  ,  656-658  (See  169,  171,  690) 

Prayers  of  '.  673-676  (See  500,  501) 

Christ    153-188 

Atonement  of  164-188  (See  33,  35-37,  65,  94) 

Blood  of,  Its  Power  182-188  (See  27-32,  95,  98) 

Confessing  436-442  (See  114,  557,  702) 

Death  of.  164,  165  (See  22,  96,  420,  571) 

Gratitude  to  399,  401,  402  (See  26,  38) 

Guide  39-41,  310-312,  491,  492 

Intercession  of.  160,  161 

Joy  in  i  446-448  (See  256) 

L,ife  and  Character  of.  154-163 

I,ove  of,  for  the  Sinner  154,  156-159  (See  35-37,  50-52,  59,  438) 

Ivove  to  443-445  (See  92,  401,  402,  459) 

Power  of,  to  Save  161,  185  (See  117,  118,  153,  156,  422) 

Results  of  Reje(5ling  322-341 

Sacrifice  of.  163  (See  97,  158,  438) 

Safety  in  444  (See  19,  48,  49,  91,  118,  184,  385,  448,  655,  682,  688,  692) 

Self  I,ost  in  555-557 

377 


378  THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 

No. 

Christian  Courage  405,  421,  427,  436,  440,  50S 

_   .I-ife  398-553 

Christian  Rewards  696-715 

Work  554-730 

Christianity's  Advantage  over  Infidelity  107,  109,  115,  266,  721 

Christianity's  Power  119,  153 

Church  716-730 

Anxious  for  a  Revival  .327 

Benefits  of  Membership  in  716,  717 

Final  Triumph  of  728,  729 

Hard  on  the  Pastor  722 

Missions  727  (See  25,  562) 

Value  of.    720,  721  (See  266) 

Conquering  Sin    .426,  427 

Consecration  554-57^  (See  57,  127,  166,  168) 

Conversion  ,  37^-397 

An  Important  Matter  378,  380  (See  182) 

Essential  379-381 

False  382-384  (See  718) 

Hindrances  to,  Removed  373~37^ 

No  Growth  After  480 

Not  Simply  a  Blessing  385 

Not  the  Result  of  Effort  386  (See  82)- 

Not  the  Result  of  Prayer  387 

Requires  L,ittle  Time  397  (See  351) 

The  Result  of  Faith  388-391 

The  Result  of  Faith  in  God,  Not  in  Feeling.  392-396  (See  382,  384) 

Convidlion   .317,  351,  359,  362,  364 

Day  of  Judgment  132,  133,  135,  136  (See  53,  54,  89,  694) 

Delay — Due  to  Petty  Causes  often  P'atal  329,  330,  336  (See  231) 

In  Accepting  Christ  Dangerous  322-341,  439 

Earnestness — Effe(flive   590-593,  596-600  (See  159) 

Wanted  462,  498,  499 

Enthusiasm  a  Blessing  596-598,  603,  604 

Eternal  Punishment,  Scoffers  at  Silenced  296-300 

Existence  of  God  (See  God,  Existence) 

Faith  482-499  (See  56,  75,  90,  116,  120) 

Created  by  Work  498,  499 

Simplicity  of  482,  486,  488,  489,  492,  493  (See  56,  75,  90) 

Test  of  Real  409,  410,  417,  418 

The  Power  of.    490,  497  (See  116) 

Works  Co-opeiating  with  495,  496,  498,  499  (See  458) 

Feeling  not  Essential  359,  364 

Fighting  under  God  s  Eye  570,  571 

Final  l^anguage,  The    730 

Forgiveness    451-455 

Free  Grace  188,  343  (See  85,  102) 

Full  Surrender  360,  365-372 

Giving  up  Old  Associates    376,  428 

God  106-219 

Co-operation  of   122,  123, 


TOPICAI,  INDE:X  OI^  RE^VIVAIv  anbcdotejs. 


379- 


No. 

God — Defied  *  ii6,  124,  125 

Kxistence  of.  106-115. 

Impossibility  of  Escaping-  128-131 

Justice  of.  132-136  (See  53,  54,  319-321). 

lyove  of  141-152 

Its  Bxtent  147,  148 

Shown  in  Affli(5lion  149-152,  485,  491 

Mercy  of  144-146  (See  93,  452) 

Omnipresence  of  126 

Omniscience  of  127-131  (See  187) 

Power  of  1 1 6- 1 25 

Providence  of.  137-140  (See  136,  149-152,  183,  342,  400,  605-611 

God's  Word  198-219 

a  Personal  Possession  211 

a  Treasure  205-208 

and  Infidels  199-204 

Destroyed  217-219 

Disobeyed    215,  216 

Its  Fruits  —  209,  210,  356 

Neglected   212-211 

Gospel  and  Rum  Incompatible  684 

Grace  Can  Keep  the  Drunkard   682,  688,  692  (See  448) 

Gratitude  to  Christ  399,  401,  402  (See  26,  38) 

Great  Results  from  Small  Opportunities  605-626  (See  18,  140) 

Heaven  703-715  (See  67-70) 

Holiness    407-435. 

Characfter  of.  423-425 

Holy  Spirit  189-197 

Assisting  in  Prayer  195,  196 

Grieved  197,  277,  318 

Obeyed  190,  191 

Power  of  192-197 

Human  Soul,  Value  of  289,  293-295 

Inconsistent  Christians  Critical  of  Others  467,  469,  472,  475,  476. 

Inconsistent  lyife  456-477 

Brings  Shame  456-458 

Consciousness  of,  a  Hopeful  Sign  474 

How  to  Remedy  471  (See  213,  379} 

Leads  to  Destruction  464,  470  (See  716) 

Not  Excused  by  Persecution  477 

Infidelity  106-115  (See  199) 

Infidels  Answered  108,  no,  in,  114,  126  (See  29,  179,  288) 

Influence — of  an  Inconsistent  Life    465  (See  435,  505,  574) 

of  Consistent  Living  407,  408,  411,  414,  416,  429-435  (See  80,  81,  180, 

   352,  625) 

Intemperance,  Results  of.  683,  691,  693-695  (See  197,  271) 

Invitation   342-357 

Immediate    349-351 

Precious  352  (See  139) 

Remarkable  342,  344,  345,  353  (See  73) 

Joy  in  Christ  446-448 

Justice  of  God  (See  God,  Justice  of) 


580 


THE  GOSPEL  worker's  TREASURY. 


No. 

Lack  of  Definite  Purpose  in  Christian  Work    594,  595 

Lang^uage,  The  Final  730 

Life — Christian  7.  (See  Christian  Life) 

Inconsistent  (See  Inconsistent  Life) 

Love — and  Forgiveness  449-455 

Fraternal   449,  450  (See  44,  45,  726) 

of  God  (See  God,  Love  of) 

to  Christ  (See  Christ,  Love  to) 

Man  220-730 

in  Sin  220-341 

vSalvation  of  342-397 

Ministers  Unfaithful  630,  631  (See  307,  593-595) 

Negle(5l  of  God's  Work  Brings  Personal  Loss  649 

Obedience  to  God  403-406  (See  127,  190,  191,  559,  569) 

Omnipotence  of  God  (See  God,  Omnipotence  of) 

Omniscience  of  God  (See  God,  Omniscience  of) 

Opportunities — Improved  605-629 

Negledled  630-649 

Parental  Negle(5t  637-639,  641,  642,  658  (See  284) 

Parents'  Responsibility  for  Drunken  Children  684-686,  690 

Passion  for  Souls  -  577-585  (See  45) 

Pleasure,  Worldly,  Unsatisfying  250,  256,  291,  314,  441,  447 

Poor  Soldiers  of  Christ  573-576  (See  212,  221) 

Praise  398-402  (See  1-6,  23-26,  64,  103) 

Prayer  500-553 

a  Dead  Mother's  532,  538 

for  Great  Things  503,  506 

for  Help  in  Material  Needs  511,  513 

for  Revival  \  516,  520-524 

for  Souls  Answered  515,  517-519,  623,  673,  674 

Meeting,  A  Small  516 

Must  be  Associated  with  Effort  534-537  (See  495) 

Negledl  of.  542-547 

Power  of  a  Mother's  528-531 

Power  of.  Tested  509,  512  (See  362) 

Seemingly  Unanswered  538,  539  (See  532,  533) 

Simplicity  of.   500,  501 

Skill  in  507 

Sustaining  510 

Taking  Trouble  for  Others  514 

Unanswered  540 

United,  for  Souls  515,  518,  525,  526 

Unworthy  504,  505,  548-553 

Present  Refusal  may  Make  Future  Willingness  Unavailing  324,  334  (See 

 66,  83,  84,  277) 

Privilege  only  Makes  Destrudlion  More  Certain   339 

Providence  of  God  (See  God,  Providence  of) 

Quarreling  Instead  of  Working  644-646  (See  449,  723) 

IReadiness  for  Work  ,  563,  564 


TOPICAI.  INDEX         REJVIVAI.  ANECDOTES. 


381 


No. 

Repentance  35^-377 

Aided  by  Prayer  362 

Means  a  Change  of  Ivife  358,  363,  408,  409 

Means  Giving  up  Sin  358,  373-376,  403 

Must  be  Permanent  377,  403 

on  Death-Bed  Suspicious  285^ 

Responsibility  for  Souls  586,  587  (See  45) 

Results — of  Infidelity  108,  iii,  112 

of  Rej edling  Christ  ...322-341 

of  Sin  (See  Sin,  Results  of) 

Rewards  of  the  Christian  696-715 

in  Death  698-702  (See  67-69,  283,  484) 

in  Future  Life  (See  Heaven) 

in  This  I^ife  696,  697  (See  68) 

Salvation — Man's     342-397 

Assured  a  Motive  for  Work  602  (See  399) 

Saved  from  Evil  Companions..  428 

Sectarianism  723-726 

Self- Confidence  Dangerous  478- 

Self-Bxamination  Important  182,  471-473 

Self  Lost  in  Christ  555-557 

Self-Sacrifice  554,  558-56?.  (See  46,  47) 

Sin — Brings  Spiritual  Blindness  238-241 

Chara(5ler  and  Extent  of  220-250 

Man  in  220-341 

of  Moralists  221-227,  306,  313,  412 

Results  of  251-341 

Bad  Influence  over  Others  262-265 

Death  268,  269 

Destroyed  while  Asleep  307-309 

Fear  of  Death  251-260 

Grief  of  Survivors  261 

Hell  296-302,  304-306  (See  269,  273) 

in  Eternity    286-295  (See  705) 

Making  an  Eternal  Mistake  313-  315  (See  99) 

on  the  Dying-bed  277-284 

Rejedling  Guide  and  being  Lost  310-312  (See  40,  72,  215,  216) 

Sometimes  Delayed  -....267 

Troubled  Conscience  ,  270-276 

Unfitness  for  Heaven  303,  304  (See  239) 

Willful  Acceptance  of  Eternal  Destru(5lion... 316-321,  (See  227,  228, 

,   232,  233) 

Sinner  in  Rebellion  against  God  234,  235 

Sinner's  Love  of  Riches  245-248,  250 

Trust  to  Culture  249 

Unworthy  Confession  of  Sin  ..242-244 

Sinners  Contented  to  Remain  Such  232,  233 

Sins  of  Others  Emphasized.  229,  23c 

Small  Victories  Should  not  Elate  Christian  Workers  601 

Soldiers  of  the  Cross    564-571  (See  405) 

Song,  The  Power  of  2,  4,  14,  17,  20,  86 

Sympathy,  The  Power  of.  ,  627-629 

Temperance  :  681-695 


582  THK  GOSPKiy  workbir's  treasury. 

No. 

Testimony — Courageous  «  436,  440 

for  Christ  436,  438,  439,  442,  557,  702 

The  Power  of.  114 

TJniversalism,  Folly  of  «  296-300 

Word,  God's  .(See  God's  Word) 

Work,  Christian  (See  Christian  Work) 

Zeal  577-604  (See  159,  178,  462,  463) 


INDEX  OF  TEXTS. 


OI.D  TESTAMENT. 


Genesis. 

No. 

iii.  1-7    821 

iii.  8    747,  885 

iii.  9    849 

iii-  13    741 

iv.  9    1213 

vii.  7    996 

^ii.  16    999 

xiii.  II    900 

xix.  16    1022 

xxxii.  7    927 

xxxii.  28   1207 

xxxii.  29   1 1 19 

xxxiii.  9,  II    913 

xli.  9    1035 

Jilv.  20    1 185 

Exodus. 

iv.  2-4    1 154 

xiv.  13    1 182 

xiv.  15    1 182,  1 194 

XV.  26    765 

xxxii.  26   852,  1 179 

lyEVITICUS. 

xix.  17    1211 

Numbers. 

X.  29   1009 

xi.  29    1224 

xiii.  30    1 138,  12 10 

xiii.  32    1 159 

xxi.  4    1161 

xxiii.  19    734 

xxxii.  23   928 

xxxiii.  55    1204 


Deuteronomy. 

I 

xxxii.  29   

xxxii.  31   

xxxii.  47   

Joshua. 


111.  9   

vi.  3   

vi.  16   

vii.  13   

xxiv.  14  

xxiv.  15  

xxiv.  19  

xxiv.  19-25 


Judges. 


V.  23 
vii.  9 
vii.  20 
xvi.  20 


i.  16,  17  . 


952 
785 
1087 


1192 
948 

1024 

1027 
855 

1088 


....  1193 
....  1202 
....  1221 


I.  Samuel. 


11.  3 
xii.  24 
xiv.  6 
XV.  24 
xvii.  47  . 


1004 
914 
1208 


II.  Samuel. 


...  1004 
...  1236 


xviii.  30  , 
xviii.  44  . 
XX.  40 
xxi.  20 


vii.  4 
vii.  19 
X.  15 

xvii.  33 

xviii.  4 


No. 

924 
1212 

946 
1129 
1235 
1201 

929 


1068 
1004 
1136 


1 102,  1 173 
  1 174 


II.  Chronicles. 

vii.  14  ...  853,  1 177,  1231 

XV.  5    926 

XV.  7     1246 

XX.  4    1229 

xxviii.  23   941 

Nehemiah. 

ii.  18    1232 

vi.  3    1234 

viii.  10    1 190 

Esther. 

iv.  14    1218,  1219 

vii.  10    786 


884 


The;  gospeji.  worker's  treiasury. 


Job. 

No. 

xxii.  5   

  841 

xxii.  21   

  IOI2 

xxiv.  13   

  902 

xxxiii.  27  



Psalms. 

h  5 



ii;.4   



  921 

X;  4   

  732 

^   

  731 

XIV.  3   

  831 

7   

■^^-''•.^^   

  844 

xxxi.  24   

  II88 

xxxiv.  21  

  939 

XXX vii.  31  ... 

  816 

1.  21   

  753 

li.  7  .   

  1066 

Ixxvi.  II  

.....  1195 

Ixxvii.  7,  8  ... 

  1152 

Ixxviii.  32  ... 

  884 

Ixxxv.  6   

  1127 

xc.  8   

  842 

XC.  12   

  958 

ciii.  3   

833,  988 

cvi.  8   

.....  998 

cvii.  5   

  829 

cxix.  9   

  810 

816,  819 

cxix.  136  

  1 100 

cxxxix.  23  ... 

  735 

cxlii.  4   

  1216 

cxlvii.  3   

  833 

Proverbs. 

i.  26   

  887 

V.  II,  12   

  956 

  1083 

X.  7   

  940 

xiv.  12   

  820 

xiv.  14   

  1 149 

XV.  2   

  879 

XV.  8   

  856 

XX.  II   

  1241 

xxi.  2   

  875 

xxi.  4   

  820 

xxiii.  26   

  1005 

XXV.  25   

  1002 

xxvii.  I   

  951 

xxviii.  5   943 

xxviii.  9   856 

xxviii.  13  ...  945,  1041 

ECCLESIASTES. 

viii.  II    908 

ix.  3    827 

ix.  10    1 196 

ix.  15    1209 

ix.  18    950 

xi-  9    934 

xii.  13    1086 

Canticles. 


Isaiah. 

i-  5    827 

i.  6    833 

i.  18    1065 

ii.  5    1007 

viii.  18    1244 

xxvii.  II    925 

xxviii.  17   738 

xxxii.  II    1162 

xxxiii.  17   1252 

XXXV.  8-IO    1093 

xxxviii.  I   955 

xxxviii.  17    1032 

xli.  17    755 

xli.  21    897 

xlii.  7    827,  834 

xlii.  16    1079 

xiv.  22    1006 

xlix.  20   1225 

xlix.  21    1225 

li.  12,  13   733 

Hi.  10    1233 

liii.  5               869,  1070 

liii.  6    787 

liv.  13    1242 

Iv.  I    1028 

Iv.  I,  2    829 

Iv.  2    942 

Iv.  6    1023 

Iv.  7    1038 

Iv.  8,  9    8S0 

Ivii.  14    1227 

Ivii.  20,  21    963 


lix.  I,  2 
Ix.  8 
Ixi.  I 
Ixi.  10 

Ixii.  II 
Ixiii.  I 
Ixiv.  6 


No. 

  1128 

  1003 

826,  990 

  832 

  1228 

  779 

  832 


JEREMIAH. 


11.  25 

ii.  30 

iii.  5 
iii.  17 


V.  3 
vi.  14 
vi.  16 
viii.  14  .. 
viii.  20 
xiii.  16  .. 
Xlii.  23 

xvii.  10  .. 

xviii.  II  .. 
xxxvi.  24 
xliv.  4 

-a.  34 


820 

933 

822 
1080 

901 
1155 
1008 
1175 

923 

891 
1055 

737 
1042 

845 

3,  830 
778 


lyAMENTATIONS. 


111.  ID   

ix.  6   

xvi.  54   

xvii.  9   

xviii.  4   

xviii.  20   

xviii.  21,  22 

xviii.  28   

xviii.  31   

xviii.  32   

xxxiii.  5   

xxxiii.  II  

xxxiii. 32  

xxxvi, 26.. 1064, 
xxxvi.  31  

xxxvi.  37  

xxxvii.  i-io 


992 
1151 
985 

lOII 

965 
I03& 
1050 
I07I 

758 


  762 

  1 150 

1069, 1 07 1 

  1036 

  1 123 


INDEJX  OF  TKXTS. 


385 


Daniel, 

No. 

V.  6    1034 

V.  27    872 

ix.  17    1 170 

HOSEA. 

vii.  2    749 

vii.  14    974 

viii.  7    937 

X.  2.    1 168 

X.  12    1171 

xi.  8     759 

xi.  8,  9    1 153 

xiii.  9    936 

Amos. 

iv.  II    846 

iv.  12    743 

vi.  I.    1200 

vi.  i-ii    966 


No. 

vii.  2    1 125 

vii.  7    871 

yiii.  7    736 

ix.  13    looi 

Obadiah. 

i.  3    870 

Jonah. 

i.  6    1 120,  1 163 

iii.  9    1004 

MiCAH. 

ii.  10    840 

vii.  I    1167 

Habakkuk. 

ii-  4    1073 


Zephaniah. 

No. 

ii.  3    1004 

iii.  2    861 

Haggai. 
ii.  14    824 


Zechariah. 


iv.  10 

1226 

vii.  5 

863 

viii.  2 

....  1126, 

1230 

ix.  11 

790 

xi.  12 

888 

xii.  10 

....  1030, 

xii.  12 

103 1 

xiii.  I 

831 

Malachi. 


iii.  8    867 

iv.  2    1076, 


NEW  TESTAMENT. 


No. 

i.  21 

  780 

V,  16 

  1098 

V.  20 

  1 160 

vi.  6 

  1121 

vi.  12 

  825 

vi.  24 

  1085 

vi.  33 

  1 105 

vii.  13  ... 

  1015 

vii.  19 

  1 103 

viii.  3 

  835 

viii.  19 

  1091 

viii.  29  ... 

  931 

X.  22 

  1089 

X.  32 

  1 140 

X.  32,  33  ■•• 

  lOIO 

xi.  12 

  1203 

xi.  28 

  I02I 

xii.  41 

  883 

xiii.  58  ... 

...  II35,  II39 

No. 

XV.  22   

....  1124 

....  964 

xvii.  20  

....  1132 

xviii.  2   

....  1238 

xviii.  10  

....  1237 

xviii.  30  

....  837 

xviii.  34  

....  971 

XX.  6   

....  1181 

xxi.  19   

...  1169 

xxi.  28   

....  1198 

xxii.  5   

...  887 

xxii.  II   

•.-  739 

xxii.  14  

...  1020 

xxii.  37  

...  1205 

xxii.  37,  38  .. 

xxiii.  37  

....  770 

xxiv.  32,  33  .. 

...  968 

xxiv.  39  

...  978 

...  972 

xxv.  8   

...  1147 

XXV.  31-46  

...  977 

xxv.  32   

....  742 

No. 

xxvi.  41    1223 

xxvii.  3    1048 

xxvii.  3-10   888 

xxvii.  5    953 

xxvii.  19   905 

xxvii.  21   909 

xxvii.  22   910 

xxviii.  5    1049 

Mark. 

i.  15    1051 

ii-  3,  4    1217 

ii.  16,  17    1026 

iv.  38    764 

V.  26    792 

vi.  12   1033 

vi.  16    932 

X.  13,  14    1026 

X.  17    982 

X.  21    858 

X.  22    1047 


386 


THK  gospe:i,  worker's  treasury. 


X.  49 

xi.  24 

xii.  34  ... 

xiii.  33-37 

xiv.  8 
xiv.  36  ... 
xiv.  72 
xvi.  16 
xvi.  20 


No. 

1019 
1117 
8,  994 
1130 
1 199 
1128 


1206 


Luke. 


ii.  7 

  886 

V.  5 

  1184 

vii.  22 

  980 

yii.  45 

  862 

ix.  26 

  898 

ix.  51 

  776 

  1 166 

X.  20 

  1249 

X.  23 

  1 1 13 

X.  27 

  1205 

xi.  13 

  797 

xi.  23 

  851 

xii.  19 

  912 

xii.  40 

  957 

xiii.  6-9  ... 

  920 

xiv.  22 

  989 

xiv.  23 

  1017 

XV,  10 

  1046 

xvi.  19-31 

••     967,  973 

xvi.  22 

  954 

xvi.  26 

  969 

xvi.  31 

  808 

xvii.  32  .... 

  1 165 

xviii.  1-8... 

  1128 

xix.  4 

  769 

xix.  9,  10  . 

  1060 

xxiii.  7  .... 

  911 

xxiii.  18  .... 

  889 

xxiii.  33  .... 

  782 

xxiii.  39  .... 

  906 

xxiii.  43  .... 

  995 

John. 

i.  46 

  1014 

iii.  3 

  1052 

iii.  7 

••  1053,  1058 

iii.  16 

  756 

iii.  36 

  1075 

No. 

iv.  4    1191J  1220 

V.  40    922 

vi.  44    1081 

viii.  21    916 

viii.  32    1 106 

viii.  42    850,  1 157 

viii.  46    895 

viii.  59    91S 

ix.  35    1040,  1074 

X.  n    7S9 

xi.  39    1 186 

xi.  43    791 

xii.  26    1245 

xii.  32    777 

xiv.  15    io8a 

XV.  3    818 

XV.  22    746 

XV.  27    1 141 

xvi.  8    800 

xvi.  23    1128 

xvii.  I    768 

xviii.  40   894 

xxi.  15    1243 


i.  8                  798,  1 142 

i.  14    1118 

i.  16-19    888 

ii-  36    784 

ii-  37    1044 

11-  39    795 

viii.  21    864 

viii.  22     1039 

viii.  26-39   1 06 1 

ix.  3-6    1067 

xii.  5    1 122 

xvi.  7    799 

xvi.  14    1067 

xvi.  15    1112 

xvi.  26    796 

xvi.  30    983 

xvi.  33,  34   1077 

xvii.  II    813 

xvii.  27   760 

xviii.  17   854,  904 

xix.  2   804 

xix.  13    1 158 

xix.  34    865 

XX.  28    775 

xxiv.  25   917,  930 

xxvi.  28   919 


Romans. 


No. 


i.  16    981 

i-  17    1073 

1-  20    915 

i.  28    949 

ii.  4    907 

iii.  19    873,  878 

iii.  20    847 

V.  I    1072 

V.  ii    1 104 

vi.  II    1062 

vi.  13    1095 

vi.  18    1094 

vi.  21    836 

vi.  23    962 

vii.  18    843 

viii.  6    828 

viii.  7    838 

viii-  13    975 

viii.  16   1063,  1069 

viii.  28    1108 

viii.  38,  39    1063 

X.  9    1144 

X.  II    1109 

X.  13    991 

xii.  I    1178 

xii.  2  '    1082 

xiv.  12    874 

I.  Corinthians. 


i.  8 

i.  27-29 

i.  30 

ii.  12 

iii.  II 
V.  7 

vi.  9 

vii.  29 
ix.  22 
xiv.  8 

XV.  22 


  1250 

  1 183 

  794 

—  1069 

  781 

  771 

....  976 

  "97 

  1215 

....  1176 

....  828 


II.  Corinthians. 


VI.  14 

viii.  9 

ix.  15 


  750 

.  1056,  1059 

  892 

,    1000 

  1096 

  788 

  773 


INDEJX  OV  TEXTS. 


387. 


Galatians. 

No. 

i.  8         ..;   807 

iii.  II    1073 

iv.  18    1 1 89 

V.  I    IIIO 

V.  22,  23    803 

vi.  7    935 

vi.  14    783 

Ephesians. 

ii.  12    947 

iv.  14    1 133 

iv.  22    1045 

iv.  30    801 

V.  14    1013 

vi.  1-3    1239 

vi.  4    1240 

vi.  II    1090 

Philippians. 

i.  27,  28    1092 

iv.  19    1 107,  II II 

COLOSSIANS. 

i.  21,  22    761 

ii.  6    1114 

I.  Thessalonians. 

ii.  12    1251 

ii.  13    817 

V.  19    802 

II.  Thes.salonians. 

ii.  3,  8    820 

ii.  7    820 

I.  Timothy. 

i-  15    774,  987 

ii.  6    772 

iv.  7    1097 


II.  Timothy. 

No. 

ii.  12    1254 

ii.  26    826 

iii.  8   903 

iv.  10    1 164 


Hebrews. 


ii.  I 

  882 

ii.  3 

....     859,  993 

iii.  I 

  763 

iii.  12 

  823 

iv.  12 

  806 

vi.  I 

  1099 

  1134 

vii.  25  .. 

766,  767,  793 
  868 

ix.  22 

X.  31 

  748 

X.  35 

  1137 

X.  38  .. 

  1073 

xi.  4 

  868 

xi.  16 

  1248 

xi.  24,  26 

  1054 

xii.  29  .. 

  752 

xiii.  17  .. 

  1214 

James. 


i.  7    1128 

i.  15    961 

i.  18    1057 

i.  21    809 

iv.  3    1128 

iv.  14    959,  960 

iv.  17    860,  881 

V.  9    744 

V.  16    1116 


I.  Peter. 

i-  4    1247 

ii.  I,  2    1037 

V.  4    1255 


II.  Peter. 


No. 

!•  9   

834 

1.  21   

805 

ii.  19   

944 

ii.  20   

820 

1.  JOHN. 

i-  3   

1 143 

1-4   

815 

ii-  5   

1069 

iii.  I   

757 

iii.  14   

1069 

039 

iv.  8   

752 

iv.  13   

1069 

iv.  14,  15  

1069 

iv.  15   

1 145 

V.  2   

1069 

V.  4   

1131 

TUDE 

23   

997 

K.EVELATION. 

ii-  4   

1146 

ii.  21   

899 

iii.  16   

1156 

iii.  17   

857 

iii.  18   

1029 

iii.  20   

1025 

iv.  3   

751 

vi.  II   

1256 

vii.  9-17   

979 

XX.  II   

877 

XXI.  8   

979 

xxii.  4   

1253 

xxii.  17   

1018 

xxii.  20   

820 

7/3 


